Born and raised in Union County, N.J. and editor of Summit Patch. Camilo H. Smith has over 10 years of journalism experience in print and online publications. He spent seven years as a copy editor and contributing writer at the Los Angeles Times. His work has appeared in Paid Content, MSNBC.com, The Newark Star-Ledger, latimes.com, Reader's Digest, Latina magazine and various music publications. He's a graduate of Brandeis University and most recently Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where he studied digital journalism.
Camilo was a freelancer for New Brunswick Patch, where he covered local businesses.
Before working full-time for Patch, he was a student at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism where he concentrated in digital journalism and focused on hyper-local reporting and immigration issues. He began his journalism career as a reporting intern at the Newark Star-Ledger. He followed that experience by working as a copy editor at Long Island Newsday and ventured west to work at the Los Angeles Times as a copy editor for several years.
His favorite things about N.J. in no particular order: Wildwoods, the mall and South Mountain Reservation.
<br><b>Beliefs</b>
<i>At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.</i>
<i><br>This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you think you we failed in this mission, let us know.</i>
<b>Politics</b>
I don't hold any particular party affiliation. I find truths on both the conservative and liberal sides of the coin.
<b>Religion</b>
<i>How religious would you say you are? Casual, observant, devout, non-religious?</i>
I'm casually spiritual. I was raised Catholic and attended a Catholic high school in Newark, N.J. I earned my bachelor's degree from a predominantly Jewish university.
<b>Local Hot Button Issues</b>
<i>What do you think are the two or three most important issues facing the community?</i>
County taxes, parking and downtown businesses.
<i>•	Where do you stand on each of these issues?</i>
I work to report fairly on these issues and continue to look and read what the community and city officials have to say about them.
Summit lost 9 of its residents in the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks. A piece of the World Trade Center was presented to the Summit Volunteer First Aid Squad.
SMG's sports & health festival kicks off Sunday, 12 p.m. in Berkeley Heights. Residents can meet 2012 Olympians, participate in various activities, hear sports-health lectures.
A piece of steel from the World Trade Center will be mounted on a stone engraved with the following saying: "It is not how they died that made them hero’s, it is how they lived”.
Dozens gathered for a morning launch party in downtown Summit.
Under Muñoz’s bill, a person convicted of aggravated sexual assault on someone under the age of 13, is guilty of a first degree crime.
Valerie Sudol will share the myths and facts behind a successful garden at Union County’s Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside.
20 residents pooled their funds and created a garden that has been providing home-grown produce throughout the growing season.
A car was rear-ended making a left turn from the westbound lane of River Road.
The film studies student who graduated from Summit High School works at the new luxury gym in Summit, while he goes to college.
After 25 years at the Summit Free Public Library, Director Glenn Devitt will retire. He leaves Nov. 9
All arrest information is provided by the Summit Police Department. An arrest does not indicate guilt, only a court of law can make that decision.
What's lost: Pair of Yankees tickets for a game on Oct. 1.
Whether you love Spiderman, X-men or Batman, be sure to geek out with your favorite comics on this holiday.
Additional clinics begin today.
Gym rats and fitness enthusiasts have already starting working out at the new Equinox fitness on River Road.
Funding for the rock wall came from private donations, the Washington School PTO, The Gravity Vault, Rockwerx, Merck and The Junior League of Summit.
The Alternate Route Police Candidate Process is open for Class #109 (July through December 2013) and Class #110 (January through June 2014) Basic Training Program for Police Officers.
Eligible voters can receive and cast their ballots at the same time at the clerk's Westfield or Elizabeth office.
The Summit Taxpayers Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to advocate for fiscally responsible government.
A commuter contacted Patch to share his concern about people sleeping on benches at the Summit station.
