Hector Tavarez for District 3 Commissioner
Hector Tavarez joined the Egg Harbor Township Police Department at the age of 20, becoming the first Latino-American to serve in the EHTPD. He ultimately reached the rank of Captain before retiring after 25 years of public service. In 1989, he and a group of police officers and local volunteers founded what is now known as the Police Activities League (PAL) of Egg Harbor Township and Atlantic County. As the driving force, Hector started PAL because he wanted to improve the relationship between our youth and the police. Hector and his fellow officers started by working out of their police cars with small activities such as movies and basketball. Now 34 years later, Hector serves as Executive Director having grown the organization with 45,000 square feet of recreational buildings on a 35 acre campus having served more than 35,000 children, and presently serving about 800 children a year from throughout Atlantic County. The PAL STEM and Robotics teams have won numerous state and national awards and recognition.
Hector has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Atlantic Cape Community College and a Bachelor's Degree from Stockton University. He also graduated from the West Point Command and Leadership School and Certified Public Manager program.
Hector and his wife, Denise, live in Egg Harbor Township and have three incredible children. Hector is running for County Commissioner because he wants to shape a better future for his two (soon to be three) amazing grandchildren.