Politics & Government

Galloway Council Candidate Profile: Robert Maldonado

Robert Maldonado will seek election on the Republican slate.

Galloway Township voters will go to the polls in the general election on Nov. 5 to fill four seats on the seven-member Township Council.

The ballot will feature slates of four from the Democratic and Republican parties.

On the Republican slate, Galloway Mayor Don Purdy will run for re-election with candidates Robert Maldonado, Frank Gargione and Tim Meadows. Republican incumbents Tom Bassford and Whitney Ullman will not seek re-election.

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On the Democratic slate, incumbent Councilman Jim McElwee will run for re-election with challengers Bill Montag, Michael Suleiman and Cliff Sudler.

Each candidate answered the same the same set of questions about their background and platform.

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Read all candidate profiles:

Name: Robert Maldonado                  

Age: 58   

No. of years lived in Galloway Township: 19

Family: I am married to the love of my life, Sandra, and the proud father of four grown children, all educated in the Galloway schools.

Occupation: I proudly served in the United States Navy for 23 years and retired as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1994, the year we moved to Galloway. I am presently employed by the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District, and I am chiefly responsible for the safety of our children as a uniformed school security officer.

Public service:  I was a former Democrat member of the Galloway Council from 2000 to 2004, but became a member of the Republican Party in 2004 after leaving office because I feel it is more aligned with my fiscal conservative and family values. I am a tireless community volunteer, advocate for empowerment of the Hispanic community and spiritual leader and I will be a strong advocate for positive action and a champion for the betterment of our entire community.  I am an active parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and serve on the AtlantiCare Patient and Family Advisory Council.  

PLATFORM:

What issues do you see as critical for the next four years?

As a resident of Galloway, one of the biggest issues I feel is the cut back in public safety and the negative effect that this has on our community.  We have a growing community and we need to assure sufficient levels of police, fire and EMT personnel. 

What do you see as the biggest accomplishments and shortcomings of the existing Township Council and township administration in the past four years?

As a council member, I can do a better job in setting long term goals and properly budgeting to avoid cut backs in public safety. Public safety departments need the resources to get the job done, that means we need to allocate properly for equipment upgrades, replacement and repair.

What do you want voters to know about you and what you’ll bring to the table?

I have been in law enforcement for most of my life. I served as Military Police in the United States Navy and then as a NJ licensed private detective, and now as a security officer, so safety is at the top of my list of issues and where I will focus much of my energy after I am elected.


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