NALEO Announces the Election of the Honorable E. Junior Maldonado
as NALEO’s 13^th President and Additional Updates on Board Leadership

Honorable Maldonado is the first Puerto Rican-born NALEO President and is a
Founding Father of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity at Rutgers University

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
(NALEO) today announced the election of its new president — Hudson County Clerk, New Jersey, the Honorable E. Junior Maldonado — in a special meeting of the NALEO Board of Directors following the Honorable Lubby Navarro’s resignation as NALEO President and the Board of Directors. Maldonado becomes the organization’s 13^th president in its 47-year history.

“The entire NALEO Family thanks the Honorable Lubby Navarro for her leadership and service as NALEO President,” said NALEO CEO Arturo Vargas. “Her dedication and support to the organization’s mission contributed to our success in serving NALEO members through our high-quality programming and recent annual Conference in New York City. We wish her the very best in her future projects and endeavors.”

To serve in her place, the NALEO Board of Directors elected the Honorable E. Junior Maldonado, who will immediately assume the role of NALEO President for the 2023–2024 term.

Honorable Maldonado serves as Hudson County, New Jersey Clerk and is the first County Clerk in New Jersey State history of Puerto Rican descent. His career experience spans over 35 years of law enforcement and public service. For many years, Clerk Maldonado has also been an involved citizen in the Jersey City community — where he has resided for nearly his entire life. Previously, Clerk Maldonado served in the United States Navy and is a Rutgers University alumnus. The Honorable Maldonado is the first Puerto Rican-born NALEO President and Latino Greek who helped found the Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity at his alma mater.

“We are delighted to have the Honorable E. Junior Maldonado take on the role of NALEO President,” said NALEO CEO Arturo Vargas. “We look forward to working with him as the organization continues to grow and deliver on its mission of supporting the more than 7,000 Latino elected and appointed officials from across the nation who are on the frontlines of the communities they serve.”

The Board also elected the following slate of officers to serve for the 2023–2024 term:

• First Vice President – New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D)
• Second Vice President – City of Downey, CA Mayor Claudia Frometa (R)
• Secretary – New Mexico Commission of Public Records Member Brian Colón (D)
• Treasurer – Coconino County, AZ Treasurer Sarah Benatar (D)

During the special meeting, Monterey County Supervisor Christopher Lopez (I) was also elected to serve the unexpired term in the Class of 2024–Second Term.

“I am honored to have been elected to lead NALEO for this upcoming term,” said newly-elected NALEO President and Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado. “I thank my predecessor, the Honorable Lubby Navarro, for her vision and support on behalf of this organization and look forward to working with my colleagues on the NALEO Board of Directors as we continue the great work of empowering Latino communities and strengthening the skills of Latino leaders from across the nation.”

The election comes after a successful NALEO 40^th Annual Conference, which took place for the first time in New York City, July 11–13, 2023. The event convened more than a thousand Latino leaders to facilitate the meaningful exchange of ideas and foster solutions around today’s most pressing policy issues.

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About NALEO 
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation’s more than 7,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.