Joe Maldonado, co-owner of Luna’s Groceries, cruised to victory over Dave Herbst to win a seat on the Fitchburg’s Common Council tonight.

Maldonado garnered two-thirds of the vote, winning 824-412. The current Community Impact Director of Education for the United Way of Dane County, he brings over a decade of experience working with youth.

“The motto of my campaign is ‘Invest in Youth and Families.’ Throughout my life, others have invested in me and I decided when I was very young that I would repay that debt by serving others,” Maldonado said in a statement following his victory. “Right now, our community and our world is hurting and facing unprecedented times. As we figure out the ‘new normal,’ we must keep the safety, health, and well-being of our entire community at the forefront of our work.

“District 1 is one of the most racially and socioeconomically diverse municipal districts in Dane County; we have people from every walk of life,” he added. “It is vital that our neighborhoods, and our city as a whole, not only reflects our voices, but works to meet our needs: affordable housing, convenient and timely transportation, local and accessible businesses, and spaces for youth to be safe, learn and grow. I am committed to collaborating with the City Council, our neighbors, and our external partners to meet these needs here in Fitchburg.”

Maldonado said in an earlier Madison365 article that his vision for young people includes cultivating a safe community that allows opportunities for leadership development and that he would like to see economic development for people of color in Fitchburg.