Junior Maldonado wins national post

Hudson County Clerk Junior Maldonado has been elected president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, a group of about 7,000 Latino officeholders from across the U.S.

He replaces Lubby Navarro, who resigned her seat on the Miami-Dade County Public School Board of Education last year after Florida passed a law that banned elected officials from also being lobbyists.  Navarro works for the South Broward Hospital District.

A former Jersey City councilman and U.S. Navy veteran, Maldonado is serving his second term as county clerk.  He is the first person of Puerto Rican descent to hold a countywide constitutional office in New Jersey.

“I am honored and elated to have been elected to lead NALEO for this approaching term,” stated Maldonado. “I want to express my gratitude to my predecessor, the Honorable Lubby Navarro, for her vision and support on behalf of this organization, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on the NALEO Board of Directors as we continue the wonderful and rewarding work of empowering Latino communities and strengthening the skills of Latino leaders all across the nation.”