Angel Fuentes
Encyclopedia
Angel Fuentes is an American
Democratic Party
politician who was elected to serve in the New Jersey
General Assembly
in 2009. He represents the 5th legislative district. Fuentes was the president of the city council in Camden
, New Jersey's seventh-largest city, serving from 2000 to 2010, stepping down to take the Assembly seat.
. He then attended St. John Vianney College Seminary
in Miami
, Florida
, earning a B.A.
degree in philosophy
. He then successfully pursued certification by the state of New Jersey as a social work
er.
As a city councilman, Fuentes has been known as a major proponent of youth and senior citizen
s' programs, efforts toward social justice, and anti-crime efforts. During his tenure on the council, Fuentes helped to create or spearheaded the creation of a Citizen Public Safety Council, Ethics and Municipal Human Relations Commissions, a Taxicab Commission, a Public Safety Council, and an Asian American Advisory Board. Notably, Fuentes has led a crusade against graffiti
in the city of Camden, which included the establishment of an anti-graffiti task force, the implementation of an anti-graffiti curriculum in local schools, and a related hotline. Favoring efficiency and accountability in government, Fuentes has published a Ten Point Plan for city government reform. Fuentes enjoys close ties with the Save Our Waterfront in North Camden organization and the Cramer Hill Neighborhood Advisory Board.
Chapter of the American Red Cross
, the Greater Camden Partnership, and the Cooper's Ferry Development Board.
In 1997, he was recognized by the Camden County Office of Hispanic Affairs & Community Development as an Outstanding Community Leader. Since then he has received addition public service awards from the American Red Cross, the Peace Troopers of Camden City, and the faith-based initiative Christian Quarterly, Inc., among others.
announced she would retire after fourteen years in office. Fuentes ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination to succeed her. His running mate was Donald Norcross
, a labor leader and brother of George Norcross. In the general election, Fuentes and Roberts soundly defeated the Republican nominees, Brian Kluchnick and Stepfanie Velez-Gentry.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 5th District for the 2010-2011 Legislative Session are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician who was elected to serve in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 2009. He represents the 5th legislative district. Fuentes was the president of the city council in Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, New Jersey's seventh-largest city, serving from 2000 to 2010, stepping down to take the Assembly seat.
Early life and education
Fuentes was raised in Camden, where he graduated from Woodrow Wilson High SchoolWoodrow Wilson High School (New Jersey)
Woodrow Wilson High School is a four-year public high school in Camden, in Camden County, New Jersey, United States, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as part of the Camden City Public Schools....
. He then attended St. John Vianney College Seminary
St. John Vianney College Seminary
Saint John Vianney College Seminary is a Catholic institution, founded in 1959 by Archbishop Coleman Carroll, the first bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami. The goal of the institution is to form men for the diocesan priesthood by focusing on the pillars of formation: human, spiritual, pastoral, and...
in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, earning a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He then successfully pursued certification by the state of New Jersey as a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er.
Camden City Council
Fuentes represents Camden's Fourth Ward, which includes Downtown Camden, the Camden Waterfront, and the North Camden, Cramer Hill, and Cooper Grant neighborhoods. He resides in the Cramer Hill neighborhood.As a city councilman, Fuentes has been known as a major proponent of youth and senior citizen
Senior citizen
Senior citizen is a common polite designation for an elderly person in both UK and US English, and it implies or means that the person is retired. This in turn implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include pensioner in UK...
s' programs, efforts toward social justice, and anti-crime efforts. During his tenure on the council, Fuentes helped to create or spearheaded the creation of a Citizen Public Safety Council, Ethics and Municipal Human Relations Commissions, a Taxicab Commission, a Public Safety Council, and an Asian American Advisory Board. Notably, Fuentes has led a crusade against graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
in the city of Camden, which included the establishment of an anti-graffiti task force, the implementation of an anti-graffiti curriculum in local schools, and a related hotline. Favoring efficiency and accountability in government, Fuentes has published a Ten Point Plan for city government reform. Fuentes enjoys close ties with the Save Our Waterfront in North Camden organization and the Cramer Hill Neighborhood Advisory Board.
Other activities
Beyond the city council, Fuentes serves on the Strategic Planning Committee for the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute. He is a member of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. He also serves on the boards of directors for the Camden CountyCamden County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the 2010 Census the population of Camden County was 60.28% Non-Hispanic white, 18.45% Non-Hispanic black, 1.12% Hispanic blacks, 0.17% Non-Hispanic Native American, 0.15% Hispanic Native Americans, 5.07% Non-Hispanic Asian, and 0.14% non-Hispanics reporting some other race...
Chapter of the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, the Greater Camden Partnership, and the Cooper's Ferry Development Board.
In 1997, he was recognized by the Camden County Office of Hispanic Affairs & Community Development as an Outstanding Community Leader. Since then he has received addition public service awards from the American Red Cross, the Peace Troopers of Camden City, and the faith-based initiative Christian Quarterly, Inc., among others.
New Jersey General Assembly
In early 2009, Democratic Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-PerezNilsa Cruz-Perez
Nilsa Cruz-Perez is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1995 to 2010, where she represented the 5th legislative district...
announced she would retire after fourteen years in office. Fuentes ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination to succeed her. His running mate was Donald Norcross
Donald Norcross
Donald Norcross is an American labor leader and Democratic Party politician who represents the 5th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate. He was sworn in on January 19, 2010, two days after being selected by Camden County and Gloucester County Democrats to replace Dana Redd...
, a labor leader and brother of George Norcross. In the general election, Fuentes and Roberts soundly defeated the Republican nominees, Brian Kluchnick and Stepfanie Velez-Gentry.
District 5
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. The other representatives from the 5th District for the 2010-2011 Legislative Session are:
- Senator Donald NorcrossDonald NorcrossDonald Norcross is an American labor leader and Democratic Party politician who represents the 5th legislative district in the New Jersey Senate. He was sworn in on January 19, 2010, two days after being selected by Camden County and Gloucester County Democrats to replace Dana Redd...
, and - Assemblyman Gilbert "Whip" WilsonGilbert "Whip" WilsonGilbert L. "Whip" Wilson is an American Democratic Party politician who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2010. He represents the 5th legislative district...
External links
- Legislative web page, New Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey LegislatureThe New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...