CHULA VISTA – Trina Lopez, who said Sweetwater Union High School District trustee Jaime Mercado advised her to run against him in November, said she is withdrawing from the race and will not serve if elected.

Lopez, 73, a retired instructional aide who lives in Imperial Beach, said she would be caring for her brother, who recently suffered a heart attack, and that it would be difficult to campaign.

“I just don't have time for it all,” she said.

When initially contacted by the The San Union-Tribune  last week about her candidacy, Lopez referred questions to Mercado – one of her opponents – whom she called her campaign chairman.

“He's the one that advised me a long time ago” to run for the Sweetwater board against him, she said yesterday. She endorsed Mercado.

Lopez said she called the Registrar of Voters Office this week and requested that her name be removed from the ballot. Her request was denied. The deadline for withdrawal was Aug. 8.

Mercado acknowledged in an interview Wednesday that he had asked several South County education leaders to run for his seat on the Sweetwater board, but he would not answer questions about Lopez. He said he asked candidates to enter the race because he believes voters are best served when they have more choices.

Lopez has the same last name as Mercado's highest-profile opponent, Chula Vista Elementary School District board President Bertha Lopez. A political consultant not involved in the race said having two Lopezes on the ballot could confuse voters, especially since so many candidates are on the ballot in a presidential election year.

Mercado was elected to the seat four years ago. He has three opponents in the election for Sweetwater's seat No. 4 – the two Lopezes and nurse Stephanie Alcaraz of Chula Vista. There are also three candidates in a separate election for another seat on the board.

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Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637; chris.moran@uniontrib.com