Belleville 2023 School Board Candidate Profiles: Pacheco, Leon

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Two local educators are vying to become the next members of the Belleville Board of Education in the 2023 general election.

There are seven candidates running for two open seats on the board: Nelson Barrera, Lissa Missaggia, Kenia Nicole Arroyuabe, Erika Jacho, Esteban Leon, Brenda Pacheco and Michael Sheldon. Another candidate, Ruben Rodriguez, filed to run in August, but has since dropped out of the race.

School board members are non-partisan and unpaid. Learn more about voting in Essex County and see key election dates here. Learn more about voting in New Jersey here. See sample ballots for Belleville and Nutley here.

In an effort to learn more about each candidate, Patch reached out to them via email with the same three questions. We will share any replies we receive in future articles (sign up for Patch Belleville-Nutley news alerts here).

Here is the joint reply we received from Brenda Pacheco and Esteban Leon, who are running together on the “Better Belleville” slate.

PATCH: What are your qualifications to serve on the Belleville Board of Education?

BETTER BELLEVILLE: Ms. Brenda is a Belleville homeowner and taxpayer, and a single mom of three boys – all Belleville School District graduates. She has been a School #7 paraprofessional and translator for 12 years. She is an ABA-certified therapist who believes all children should receive the care and attention they deserve.

Coach Steve is a Belleville homeowner and taxpayer, married to Alexandra Leon. He has been a physical education and health teacher for 12 years. He's currently the varsity boy’s head basketball coach at Memorial High School and has been for nine years. In 2020, he was named HCIAL Co-Coach of the Year. Coach Steve is deeply passionate about parental rights, particularly because he and his wife have roots in Belleville and are eager to start their own family.

PATCH: What are the biggest issues/problems the district is facing, or will face in the future? What are your plans to address these problems if elected?

BETTER BELLEVILLE: One of the most significant challenges the district faces – and will likely continue to face in the future – is funding. School districts typically rely on a combination of homeowner's property taxes and state aid to cover their expenses. If elected, we are committed to addressing this issue by collaborating closely with the existing trustees and state legislators to secure Belleville's fair share of state funding. Our goal is to ensure that our students receive the resources and opportunities they deserve to thrive and excel in their education.

PATCH: Tell us something about the Belleville public school system that always makes you smile.

BETTER BELLEVILLE: One aspect of the Belleville public school system that never fails to bring a smile to our faces is our commitment to providing free pre-K education to nearly 90% of our children. This initiative offers a remarkable head start to our young learners and sets them on a path to success from an early age. Witnessing our children thrive in their educational journey, coupled with the relief it brings to parents who no longer have to bear the financial burden of early education, is a source of immense pride. We are dedicated to ensuring that Belleville continues to receive the necessary funding to not only sustain but also expand our pre-K program, so that more children can benefit from this invaluable opportunity.

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