Born and raised in Orlando, Mercedes is the daughter of a veteran and the youngest of two (2) siblings. She is fluent in both English and Spanish and enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and is dedicated to her community. She graduated from the University of Central Florida (UCF) with her Bachelors and Masters in Business Adminstration and continues to pursue higher education in construction and non-profit management.  

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In 2012, she was recruited and appointed to serve under a newly elected administration in Orange County and served as Chief of Staff until 2020. During her time with Orange County, one of her most fulfilling memories was being able to assist a family in bringing home their terminally ill son, from New York.

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Mercedes is also the co-owner of a consulting company, dedicated to assisting residents and small business owners requesting assistance in land use, planning, zoning, code enforcement, and permitting. I have dedicated my life to serving others by way of advocating for fairness and justice. I have volunteered with many local organizations and have received various awards and recognitions specific to cost savings, going above and beyond, cooperative working relationships, and leadership.