LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — Anita Lopez was one of two democratic contenders in the running for the Lucas County Commissioner seat that was left vacant by a Tina Skeldon-Wozniak when she retired at the end of December.
Former Toledo mayor and current Ohio state senator Paula Hicks-Hudson was also was interested in filling position.
The decision came down to a vote by the Lucas County Democrats' central committee,
but it was Hicks-Hudson who helped make their decision easy.
"She decided to withdraw her nomination and then it was a unanimous vote for me," said Lopez
Now the position is officially Lopez's, the latest move in a career with the county that stretches all the way back to 2004 when she was elected Lucas County Recorder.
Two years later, in 2006, Lopez took on the role of auditor and has held the position ever since.
She says all of that experience, especially during her time as auditor, has made her a perfect fit for the role of commissioner.
“This is not something I took lightly I knew that for us to keep the county moving in a positive way, we needed somebody who is very familiar with the county role," said Lopez.
Lopez will hold the title until at least December, but if she hopes to keep it she'll need to defeat Hicks-Hudson in the March Democratic Primary and then, of course win the general election.
Lopez says, even with the title next to her name, she says she won't go into the next election thinking that her spot is guaranteed.
"I always run scared. You should never be confident until Election Day. I am confident I'm going to work hard every day to earn everyone's vote. They are going to see me probably going door-to-door in the snow,” said Lopez. “You should always work with confidence but never let your guard down. You really have to earn your vote.”
MORE FROM WTOL 11: