As Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker reviews applications to fill a spot on the county's school board, members of a seemingly under-represented community say Baker's selection is very important to them.
The county's most powerful Hispanic leaders held a news conference last month voicing their disappointment in the county executive not appointing at least one Hispanic person the board after changing the school governance structure.
"Out of the 14, not one is Latino when we make up almost 23 percent of the population in the system," Del Joseline Pena Melnyk (D-Dist. 21).
There has been an open spot on the board since member Carletta Fellows stepped down in District 7, a predominantly African American community with very few Hispanics.
"Our fastest growing population is Latinos so we want to make sure they are represented so we are going to try," Baker told News4.
Baker said he will reach out to expand the pool of Hispanics for county positions -- including the school board -- but says the process may take time.
"Our first job is to get qualified individuals to turn around our system. That is a priority. The second is to make it as diverse as possible," Baker said.
Applications for the position must be postmarked by Aug. 6.