The Alternative Press

Ronald L. Charles, has over twenty-five years of experience in the governmental, personnel, and financial management realms, and is asking for one of your two votes for the Board of Education.

Ron is family man and devoted father. Ron and his wife Idalina chose to move to West Orange to raise a family sixteen years ago. Their children, Ronald (16), Anthony (14), Michael (10), and Gabriella (9) all attend the West Orange Public Schools and they are both active members of the PTAs at Mount Pleasant, Edison, Liberty and WOHS.

Ron is probably best known to the Township’s youth.  Altruistic by nature, he tirelessly devotes himself to serving our youth volunteering to coach baseballwith the Police Athletic League (PAL), wrestling for the Junior Mountaineers, and serves on the Mountaintop League’s Board of Trustees.  An Eagle Scout himself, Ron also assists Cub Scout Pack 10 as an adult leader.  Five years ago, Ron founded the We Care 4 All Foundation, with a goal of raising money for area charities.  To date the Foundation has raised over $60,000 for local and regional charities.

Ron, a Certified Public Manager, is the Deputy Director of Immigration Services for the Education Health Centers of America. He was the former Associate Director of the Essex County Department of Corrections, the State of New Jersey’s largest county correction agency. Ron was promoted through the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, captain, warden, and retiring in May 2011 as the Associate Director. As the Associate Director, Ron was responsible for a $105 million dollar budget and a staff of over 700 employees with an inmate population of over 3,200.  During his tenure the agency was awarded national accreditation through NCCHC, CRAF, and four years of 100% inspections from the NJ Department of Correction.

Through Ron’s initiative, the Essex County’s Correctional Housing and Revenue Team (C.H.A.R.T.) program was created.  The program is responsible for over $50 million in revenue through the housing of Federal Marshall Inmates and ICE Detainees. In 2011, Ron was the executive manager responsible for writing, negotiating and securing the Inter-governmental service agreement (IGSA) contract with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency.

Ron holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Ron is also a graduate from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy’s School of Government, Leaders of the 21^st Century.   Ron is a certified trainer with the New Jersey Police Training Commission and Certified Teacher with the New Jersey’s Human Resources Development Institute.