Belleville Has a New Mayor
JerseyTalks Staff
May 13, 2026
1 min read5 views
What happened
With 100% of precincts reporting, Belleville voters have chosen Frank Vélez as the township’s next mayor, defeating incumbent Michael Melham in Tuesday’s municipal election. Vélez received 3,255 votes, while Melham finished with 2,218 votes.
Where it happened
- Belleville, Essex County.
With 100% of precincts reporting, Belleville voters have chosen Frank Vélez as the township’s next mayor, defeating incumbent Michael Melham in Tuesday’s municipal election.
Vélez received 3,255 votes, while Melham finished with 2,218 votes.
Running alongside Vélez, council candidates Danyale Wells and Michelle Rodríguez also secured victories as part of the Team Vélez slate.
The win marks a major political shift in Belleville after a heated race centered around development, leadership, and the township’s future direction. Vélez, a longtime Belleville resident and current councilman, is now set to take over as mayor following Melham’s defeat.
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Filed under: Essex CountyMore from: Belleville
