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Escobar will not seek re-election on city council

By Rico de La Prensa

Louis Escobar has been the president of Toledo City Council for the past two years. He has been on council for eight. He will not be seeking re-election this year.  

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Last week, Escobar chose a very special venue for this announcement—his first home, located at 1406 Indiana Avenue, which was part of a predominately Polish neighborhood when he was born on January 27, 19 50, after having arrived via birth at Riverside Hospital.

Escobar stood as steady and firm as the 200-year-plus aged Cottonwood tree that graces the entrance of his old homestead, which he watched grow 13 of his 55 years.

“When I considered running for the first time in 1997, it was with the hope that I might get involved in some small way in the civic discussion of our community. I had no aspiration to lead.

“But my colleagues put their faith in me to take a leadership role—first as president pro tem, and now as president. I have been honored by their trust,” said Escobar.

Escobar is serving his second term on council. Elected in 1997, he became its first Latino to serve. He was re-elected in 2001; in 2003, his peers elected him its first Latino president.

Prior to his elected life, Escobar had served as a Roman Catholic priest, teacher, forensic counselor, probation officer, mental health worker and supervisor, addiction counselor, facilitator/director of a self help group for people living with HIV/AIDS, EAP specialist, and director of a homeless shelter and of a social service/substance abuse agency.

As the former executive director of Adelante, Inc., a premier Latino social service agency now headed by Sonia Troche, Escobar doubled its budget, introduced innovative culturally-sensitive programs, and was instrumental in coordinating Adelante’s 5^th year anniversary celebration and in creating a César E. Chávez Awards banquet.

Escobar has committed to assisting in the creation of a special tribute, or tributes, to Chávez prior to the expiration of his term on December 31.

Escobar is a 1968 graduate of Central Catholic High School, receiving a B.A. degree from St. Mary’s College in 1972, a Master of Divinity from SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminar in 1976, and a M.A. from the University of Detroit in 1976.

Escobar will be leaving the political arena to pursue his goal of a PH.D. While attending classes, he will be maintaining his position as the interim coordinator of the Multicultural Center at the University of Toledo.  

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