(TRENTON) – New Jersey Legislative Latino Caucus Chairwoman Assemblywoman Nellie Pou (D-Passaic/Bergen) today issued the following statement on Senate confirmation of Camelia M. Valdes to be the new Passaic County prosecutor.

Valdes, an assistant federal prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, will become the first Latina to hold the office of county prosecutor:

“This confirmation is great news for the state’s Latino community and for all of Passaic County as we welcome Camelia Valdes to her new position. I congratulate Gov. Jon S. Corzine for this groundbreaking nomination and the State Senate for wisely confirming it.

“New Jersey’s rich diversity has always been one of the reasons it is such a great place to call home. Our combined talents make us a stronger state, and Ms. Valdes certainly has the talent for this job.

“As an assistant federal prosecutor, Ms. Valdes brings two critical elements to the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office: first, a personal knowledge of courtroom protocol and the ability to prosecute crimes on the ground level. Second: the ability to comprehend criminal justice and jurisprudence from a macro, public policy perspective.

“Ms. Valdez has dedicated her professional life to serving the great state of New Jersey, her home state. She graduated from Seton Hall University. She received her law degree from Rutgers Law School. She is the former president of the New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association. Passaic County is privileged to have someone with her education, and experience at the helm of its prosecutor’s office.

“Camelia Valdes is New Jersey through and through, and we look forward to her many successes in the years ahead.”

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