HUDSON COUNTY — Saying he wanted to help make Hudson County the best county in the county, E. Junior Maldonado was sworn in as the new freeholder for District 4 on Aug. 6, in the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders Chambers in New Jersey.
Maldonado was selected by a unanimous vote by the elected members of the Hudson County Committee.
He will serve out the unexpired term of Freeholder Eliu Rivera, who resigned in June due to ill health.
Sworn in by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, Maldonado said, “Former Mayor Glenn Cunningham may have introduced Steve to politics, but I gave him his kickstart when he beat me for council in 2005.”
Throughout his life Maldonado has dedicated himself to public service. He has been instrumental in developing, enhancing, cultivating educational and cultural programs in the Hispanic and non-Hispanic Community. He worked with community based organizations that not only helped the Hispanic communities but also non-Hispanic communities. These organizations included the Fiestas Patronales Committee, Catholic Charities Relief Fund, UNICEF International, Roberto Clemente Little League, COBRA Baseball League, Jersey City Boys Club and the anti-drug treatment program Hogar Crea. Maldonado has been a member of the Mid-Hudson American Kiwanis Club, New Jersey Hispanic Law Enforcement Association, Roberto Clemente Little League, Knights of Columbus Paulus Hook Council 475, an Advisor to the Jersey City Puerto Rican Day Parade, State-Wide Latino Task Force, Lambda Sigma Upsilon Fraternity National Board of Directors, National Association of Latino Elected Officials, Hispanic Elected Local Officials, served three terms as Chairman of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and served four terms as Chairman of the Jersey City Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Maldonado is a life long resident of Jersey City. He attended and graduated from Grammar School P.S. #39 and James J. Ferris High School, earned over 100 credits towards a degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He was selected Company Honor Man at his U.S. Navy graduation ceremony for finishing top of his class. He obtained his Law Enforcement Training at the Middlesex County Police Academy with additional courses at Columbia University, New Jersey City University and the Internal Revenue Service.
As an Investigator for seven years for the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, Mr. Maldonado held positions in the Narcotics/Gambling Strike Force, Senior Investigator in the Special Investigations Unit which targeted white collar crimes and organized crimes. He received training at the Prince George County Police Academy on the outskirts of Washington D.C. for the elite Emergency Services Tactical Unit.
Maldonado held positions of Enforcement Officer, Chief Enforcement Officer and until his retirement Deputy Executive Director of the Hudson County Improvement Authority, a multi-million dollar agency.
In 2001 Maldonado was elected to represent the residents of Ward E on the Municipal Council. Previously Mr. Maldonado was elected as a Jersey City Committeeman, New Jersey State Democratic Committee Member and as a delegate for President William Jefferson Clinton at the National Democratic Convention. – By Al Sullivan
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