By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Former Osceola County School Board member Julius Melendez took time out from his military leave to meet with local politicians, the GOP candidate for governor and potential voters Sept. 10 at the Robert Guevara Community Center in Buenaventura Lakes.

Melendez is on leave from the Florida National Guard to see his first child, a boy, born Sept. 15. He is a combat medic and sergeant stationed in Kuwait as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Originally, Melendez planned to continue serving on the School Board while deployed using video and telecommunication as well as the Internet. However, Melendez's wife, Marjorie Guillen-Melendez, was appointed in February by Gov. Charlie Crist to serve on the School Board while her husband is deployed.

“She has worked on big policy issues like the health clinics but she also works on constituent relations,” Melendez said about his wife.

Melendez, elected to School Board district 2 in 2008, was the first Hispanic to ever serve on this body. He plans to return from active duty in December and will be reinstated to the School Board by the newly-elected governor in January.

This is his third deployment and second overseas. He was deployed to Florida's west coast to aid in the cleanup of hurricanes Charley, Ivan and Frances in 2004.

“I take a lot of pride in helping Florida get back on its feet,” Melendez said.

Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor, met with Melendez and other local politicians at the community center and to visit with potential Hispanic voters.

Scott said the state needs to secure its borders and create jobs.

“We're going to get Florida back to work,” he said. “Hispanics are like all of us. We all want the American dream.”

Melendez said bringing Scott to BVL helps keep Osceola County on the possible governor's radar for “better schools, better roads, the redevelopment of (U.S. Highway) 192 and increased flexibility in tourist dollars.”

“Who doesn't want the potential future governor to know Osceola County exists?” Melendez said. “It benefits the community as a whole.”