Wednesday, May 20, 2026 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXIX, Issue No. 2
MEMORIAL DAY
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The Observer’s office will be closed Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day.
HISTORIC WIN FOR VELEZ
BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
Aged 24, Belleville’s councilman becomes state’s youngest, first Latino mayor By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
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kc@theobserver.com
elleville’s voters made electoral history Tuesday, May 12, by electing the township’s youngest-ever mayor at 24 and by making him the youngest mayor in New Jersey today. Councilman and Mayor-elect Frank Velez unseated two-term incumbent Mayor Michael A. Melham by a vote count of 3,281 or 59% of the vote to 2,242 or 41% of the vote. Velez says the turnout of 5,523 people — or 14% of the electorate — is a record for the township. “We did it and we want to say
thank you to the thousands of you who came out to vote in this historic election here in Belleville,” Velez said. “This is the highest turnout for an election in Belleville history and we did it — you actually came out to vote. You voted for change and you voted for the whole team. We cannot say thank you enough. I am beyond honored to serve as your next mayor — to be the youngest mayor in history and the first Latino mayor in history. And I am so committed to serve every family of every background of Belleville. …We are going to fight to make sure you are cared for and we cannot wait to begin this journey on July 1.”
Velez
Melham, meanwhile, expressed great disappointment in his first loss in the last three elections. “Last night’s results were
disappointing, to say the least,” Melham said the day after the election. “But I leave this chapter incredibly proud of what was accomplished over the past eight years. An average tax increase of just $68 per year over the last five years. New parks, programs, events, facilities, public parking, open space preservation and investments across every corner of Belleville. Progress that had not been seen here in generations. “This township was guided through COVID, Hurricane Ida, the Newark Lead Water Crisis and the Great Fire of 2026. Through every challenge, leadership remained steady and focused on moving Belleville forward.
Melham
There are absolutely no regrets. “Over the next month and a
See BELLEVILLE, Page 3
Ficeto has special Memorial Day Parade planned for 250th By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
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kc@theobserver.com
ourth Ward Councilman Jerry Ficeto has long been a champion for Kearny’s veterans. And, for the last few years, he’s been the driving force behind the town’s
annual Memorial Day Parade. But Ficeto And he’s succeeding at making that decided, with the nation’s 250th annihappen. versary (also known “It was very as the Semiquinimportant for me, AMERICA’S centennial) upon at the 250th anniSEMIQUINCENTENNIAL versary of our great us, this would be a great year to make nation, that we the parade extra special. honor all those who made the ultimate
sacrifice,” Ficeto, also the United Veterans Organization of Kearny’s liaison to the Town Council, said. “The best way to do that was to increase participation with bands from neighboring towns, the veterans organizations and all of the area
See PARADE, Page 4
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