photo by: contributed

Kevin Coronado

A candidate for the Lawrence school board election has dropped out of the race after he was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving under the influence.

Kevin Coronado in a Facebook post Monday did not refer to the arrest, but said, “Given the present circumstances … I have decided to remove myself from the USD 497 school board race.”

As the Journal-World reported, Coronado, 31, was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. at East 17th and Rhode Island streets, according to the Douglas County Jail booking log. He was released a few hours later on a bond of $250.

According to George Diepenbrock, a spokesman for the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy stopped Coronado and began investigating him for driving under the influence. Diepenbrock did not indicate specifically why Coronado’s car was stopped.

“As a result of the investigation at the scene, the driver was booked on suspicion of DUI,” Diepenbrock said. “Additional information will be forwarded to prosecutors for a decision on formal charges.”

As of early Wednesday afternoon, no charges had been filed against Coronado, according to Douglas County court records.

According to an interview with the Journal-World in May, Coronado is the pastor at Revive Church, a former member of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Equity Advisory Board and a current member of the Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health Board. He moved with his family to Lawrence in 2019.

The school board election is Nov. 7. Even though he has dropped out of the race, Coronado’s name will still appear on ballots, which have already been printed.