Congressman Tom Malinowski Endorses Frank Vélez for Mayor of Belleville

Millburn, NJ— Today, on the anniversary of the January 6th, 2021 insurrection, Congressman Tom Malinowski released the following statement endorsing Councilman Frank Vélez for Mayor of Belleville:

“I am proud to endorse Frank Vélez for Mayor of Belleville. Frank has a proven record of leadership in his community, having served on the Belleville Board of Education before being elected to the Belleville Township Council, where he has consistently put residents first and worked to strengthen local services for our youth, seniors, and working families.

I feel especially strongly about this endorsement today, on the anniversary of January 6th, 2021, because Belleville’s current Mayor, Michael Melham, has publicly stated he “does not believe an insurrection happened on January 6th.” Melham was also the only Essex County mayor to endorse Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli for Governor in both 2021 and 2025. Leaders who deny reality, dismiss assaults on law enforcement, and support anti-democratic thugs have no business representing our communities.

I was in the Capitol when Trump’s mob attacked, and I know firsthand the threat our democracy faced that day, and the toll suffered by the police officers who fought to save our lives. Belleville — a community that overwhelmingly supported Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill — knows what happened and deserves leadership that aligns with its values. This isn’t about red or blue — this is about right and wrong. Frank Vélez is a principled leader who has and will continue to represent all residents of Belleville. I urge all Essex County Democrats, and anyone who cherishes our threatened democracy, to join me in supporting him in the May 2026 Belleville Mayoral Election.”