Belleville elects new mayor in an upset as the incumbent is ousted after the devasting warehouse fire
Frank Vélez defeated incumbent Michael Melham, becoming one of New Jersey’s youngest mayors.
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A new mayor has been elected in Belleville a week after a massive warehouse fire, as criticism grows over how officials handled the aftermath.
Frank Vélez defeated incumbent Michael Melham, becoming one of New Jersey’s youngest mayors.
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The upset comes as parents and educators raise concerns about how the town handled school shutdowns following the fire.
In a joint letter, Belleville Public School 9 Home and School Association and the Belleville Education Association criticized communication during the first 96 hours of the crisis.
The groups cited a lack of transparency about air quality, late-night scheduling changes and concerns over the academic impact on students.
Melham and the school superintendent were specifically called out over communication issues tied to the response.
