Lopez is Archer’s first African American female mayor

ARCHER – The Archer City Commission set a new milestone recently by electing the first African American female as mayor by a unanimous decision.  In 2002, Roberta Lopez had the distinction of being the first black female elected to the City Commission, serving a four-year term, and was elected again in 2008 for another four-year term.  Lopez served terms as Vice Mayor in 2006 and 2009.

The commissioner turned mayor has been a driving force behind the restoration of the Archer Civic Auditorium. Since 2007 she has shepherded the Civic Auditorium project from a dilapidated structure used as a garage by the City to a nearly completed restored historic structure which will serve the citizens of Archer and Alachua County as a community center. Lopez was instrumental in raising over $300,000 in private donations and the award of $600,000 in grant funds.

Lopez also served in the Hillsborough County United Way program and in several positions in Hillsborough County government culminating as the Community Affairs Director. Other achievements include recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award in 2003, awarded by the Democratic Executive Committee of Alachua County for outstanding dedication to the Democratic Party of Alachua County. She is also the recipient of the Ebony Appreciation Award in 2004, the Santa Fe Community College Women of Distinction Award in 2006, The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Leadership and Achievement Award in 2008 and she has been recognized by the City of Archer for her dedication and support of the restoration of the Archer Community Center.