At-Large BOE Candidate Omar Lazo Aims To Implement 'Stronger' Budget Oversight

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Ahead of the primary elections in June, Patch has invited candidates running to represent the region on the Montgomery County Board of Education to complete a questionnaire touching on a variety of key issues.

Candidate responses will be published verbatim in the run-up to the primaries on Tuesday, June 23.

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Questionnaire responses for Omar Lazo, who is running to serve as an at-large school board member, can be found below:

Name: Omar Lazo

Age: 49

Hometown: Silver Spring

Do you have any previous political experience? If so, please state and explain how that experience will influence your time on the Montgomery County Board of Education if elected.

Yes, I bring significant public service and governance experience that directly prepares me for this role. I currently serve on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, where I help oversee budgets, policy decisions, and long-term planning for a major public institution. I also serve as Chair of the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, working closely with government, education, and industry partners to align education with career pathways.

In addition, I have spent decades working alongside elected officials at every level, including delegates, senators, county councilmembers, and members of Congress. Through this work, I have been a consistent advocate for our community and have built strong relationships that will help me effectively advocate for resources and support for our schools.

This experience has required collaboration, transparency, and making difficult decisions with limited resources. I will bring that same focus on accountability, fiscal oversight, and results to the Board of Education.

What do you believe is the single-most important issue facing voters in the district you’re looking to represent? How do you intend to address those issues?

The single most important issue facing voters is ensuring we have a responsible, transparent budget that aligns resources with student needs. Everything we care about—academic achievement, safe facilities, student support, and equity—depends on how we invest our resources.

I intend to address this by bringing stronger oversight and discipline to the budget process, identifying inefficiencies, and making sure more dollars reach classrooms and directly support students. Transparency is key. Families and taxpayers deserve to clearly understand how decisions are made, where funds are going, and what outcomes we are achieving.

Equity is not just a value, it requires intentional investment. We must ensure resources are directed to the students and schools that need them most while maintaining high standards for all.

I will also prioritize clear communication and community engagement so families have a real voice in budget decisions. When we align our budget with our priorities and operate with transparency, we can deliver better outcomes for every student.

How do you differ from other candidates running against you?

What sets me apart is the breadth of real-world experience I bring across the issues that impact our students and families. I’ve worked on food insecurity as a board member of The UpCounty Hub, in education as a Trustee at Montgomery College Board of Trustees, and as a member of the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence since its inception.

As Chair of the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, I’ve focused on building career pathways for our students. As a small business owner and President of the Wheaton & Kensington Chamber of Commerce, I understand budgets, operations, and accountability.

I’m also a father of three daughters who have gone through MCPS from kindergarten to the dual enrollment program at Montgomery College, giving me a personal understanding of the system at every stage. I’ve worked at the federal level on a contract with the Department of Justice and have been a longtime advocate for equity.

I bring a well-rounded, results-driven perspective focused on delivering for all students.

How would your work experience benefit the goals/objectives you’ve outlined in your campaign and/or the office you’re seeking?

My work experience directly supports the goals I’ve outlined, especially around strong fiscal stewardship and delivering results. As a small business owner, I managed budgets through the Great Recession and the pandemic, making difficult decisions to keep operations stable, protect jobs, and serve the community. That same discipline is needed in our school system.

At the governance level, I serve on the Montgomery College Board of Trustees, where we navigated a $348 million budget during the pandemic. That experience required balancing priorities, making data-driven decisions, and ensuring resources were used effectively during a time of uncertainty.

I also bring strong relationships with elected officials at the local, state, and federal levels. Those relationships run deep and will continue with incoming leaders after the next election. Having built trust and respect over many years is a real asset, as it allows me to advocate effectively for the resources our schools need.

This combination of financial experience and established partnerships will help ensure we are both responsible with our budget and successful in bringing additional support to our students and schools.

What is your opinion of the work being done by the current officeholder, and how will you improve on it?

I believe the current seat holder has done a good job of listening to diverse communities and staying engaged. This role requires making difficult decisions, and she has shown steady leadership in navigating those challenges.

Where I would build on that work is in strengthening transparency, particularly around the budget. I consistently hear from community members that they want clearer insight into how decisions are made and how resources are allocated. There are efforts underway to improve this, and I would continue pushing for more accessible, easy-to-understand communication.

I also hear concerns that decisions sometimes feel made without enough community input. While there have been outreach efforts, it is clear we need to do a better job of reaching people where they are, using multiple formats, languages, and times that work for families.

My focus would be to build on the strong engagement that exists while improving transparency and ensuring that more voices are meaningfully included in the decision-making process.

What is the biggest issue facing Montgomery County Public Schools? How would you address it?

The biggest issue facing Montgomery County Public Schools is ensuring we have a transparent, accountable budget that aligns resources with student needs. Every challenge we face—academic performance, safe and well-maintained facilities, student support, and equity—comes back to how we allocate and manage our resources.

I would address this by bringing stronger oversight and discipline to the budget process, identifying inefficiencies, and making sure more dollars reach classrooms and directly support students. Transparency is critical. Families and taxpayers deserve clear, accessible information about where funds are going and what outcomes we are achieving.

I would also prioritize meaningful community engagement so families have a real voice in budget decisions. At the same time, we must ensure resources are directed to the students and schools that need them most, while maintaining high standards across the system.

When we align our budget with our priorities and operate with transparency, we can better support our educators, improve student outcomes, and rebuild trust with our community.

A student brings a gun/weapon to campus without setting off any red flags. What security measures would you advocate for to prevent such an incident?

Preventing a student from bringing a weapon to school starts long before they walk through the doors. While physical security has a role, there are real limits to what it can stop. With the rise of untraceable or 3D-printed weapons, it is not realistic to fully secure every entry point without turning schools into environments that feel more like prisons than places of learning.

The most effective approach is prevention through people, not just infrastructure. We must invest in strong mental health services, including counselors, psychologists, and early intervention systems that identify students who may be struggling. When students feel supported, connected, and safe, the likelihood of them considering bringing a weapon decreases significantly.

We also need to strengthen relationships within schools so students feel comfortable reporting concerns. That must be paired with real follow-up and accountability when issues are reported, including bullying, Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other forms of harassment. Students and families need to know their concerns will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.

In addition, I support clear safety protocols, staff training, and coordinated response plans with local agencies. Ultimately, school safety is about creating an environment where students feel seen, supported, and valued.

Do you believe schools need stricter security measures? Metal detectors? Move away from CEOs and revert to SROs? Explain.

I believe school safety starts with prevention, not just physical security. We need to invest more in mental health services so we can identify concerns early and support students before situations escalate. That must be paired with real accountability and strong conflict resolution when issues are reported.

Restorative justice is also an important part of this approach. When done correctly, it helps address conflict, repair harm, and build stronger relationships, rather than simply relying on punishment. This creates a school culture where students feel respected, heard, and responsible for their actions.

I do not believe measures like metal detectors are a complete solution. With the rise of 3D-printed and untraceable weapons, it is not realistic to rely solely on physical screening. We have to be careful not to create environments that feel more like checkpoints than schools.

Regarding security staffing, I support strengthening and investing in Community Engagement Officers rather than simply reverting to a policing model. My daughters have experienced both positive and negative interactions, which shows the need for consistency. We should standardize training, focus on relationship-building, and ensure officers are equipped to support students.

Equally important is having a clear system of evaluation and accountability so we know what is working and where improvements are needed.

What is your stance on the "Save Wootton" initiative by community members?

I have spoken with many students, parents, and educators, and it is clear that Wootton High School plays a vital role in its community. Schools are more than buildings—they are anchors for families, relationships, and student success. Permanently moving a school out of its current location would be highly disruptive.

As a Board member, my role is to advocate for communities across the entire county, and that includes the Wootton community. I will ensure their voices are heard and fully considered in any decision-making process, just as I would for any other community facing similar challenges.

At the same time, we have to be honest about how we got here. Years of budget decisions, going back over a decade, have created challenges that are now forcing difficult conversations. Moving forward, I will work with the Board and the superintendent to build a more disciplined, transparent, and future-focused budget so we can explore all options thoughtfully and avoid putting communities in this position in the future.

What will you do to ensure that concerns of parents and/or guardians of MCPS students are heard and addressed before a vote is held on any new business?

To ensure concerns are heard before any vote, we have to rethink how we engage families and meet people where they are. Too often, we rely on the same methods and hear from the same voices. The reality is the loudest voice is not always the most representative.

I would expand outreach by offering meetings at different times, including evenings and weekends, so working families can participate. We also need multiple formats, both in person and virtual, and ensure language access so technology or language is not a barrier.

Equally important is working with trusted community partners to understand how different communities receive information, whether through radio, social media, faith-based organizations, or local networks. We should use those channels to share information early and gather feedback before decisions are made.

Finally, we need to close the loop by showing families how their input influenced the outcome. Engagement should not be a formality. It should be meaningful, inclusive, and reflective of the full diversity of our community.

A 6% property tax increase was proposed for the fiscal 2027 budget to raise funds for schools. Homeowners are reluctant to pay more.

What is your position?

I understand the need to invest in our schools, but we also have to be mindful of the financial reality families are facing. Right now, many households are struggling with rising costs, and adding a 6% property tax increase would place an additional burden on homeowners. We must be careful not to put families in a position where they are forced to choose between their own stability and supporting our schools.

What other options would you consider to raise money that does not include raising taxes?

Before asking taxpayers for more, we must ensure we are using our existing resources responsibly. I would take a hard look at the budget to identify inefficiencies and ensure more dollars are reaching classrooms and directly supporting students. I would also strengthen advocacy at the state level to secure additional funding and ensure Montgomery County receives its fair share. A disciplined, transparent approach to budgeting will help us maximize resources without placing additional strain on families.