Belleville Watchdog Blog Asks 2024 Candidates To Sign Ethics Pledge

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A local “citizen watchdog blog” is bringing back its candidate pledge challenge for the 2024 election in Belleville.

Last week, Belleville Watch announced that it has reached out to each of the eight candidates in this year’s municipal election, asking them to sign a non-binding, voluntary ethics pledge as Election Day nears.

The candidates include:

• 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 - Tracy Juanita Williams, Patricia Inaugurato
• 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 - Frank Velez, Victor Mesce, Gary Hinton
• 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 - Vincent Cozzarelli
• 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐝 - Michael Sheldon, Diana Guardabasco

According to a news release from Belleville Watch, the pledge asks candidates to “commit to increasing opportunities for public input in township matters, to stay informed about issues in the community, to explain their votes on key issues, and to uphold exemplary ethical standards” (read the full pledge below).

Belleville Watch editor and publisher Frank Fleischman III said that the blog isn’t offering endorsements to candidates who complete the pledge – only public acknowledgement.

Last year, the blog reached out with a similar pledge to candidates in the board of education race. Fleischman said three candidates – Nelson Barrera, Kenia Arroyabe and Michael Sheldon – signed the pledge. Two others – Erika Jacho and Lissa Missaggia – declined to sign on advice of legal counsel/ethics boards. Esteban Leon or Brenda Pacheco did not respond to the request.

• See Related: Belleville School Board Candidates Asked To Take Ethics Pledge
• See Related: Belleville 2023 School Election Results Certified (See Final Totals)

“We had success with the school board candidate pledge last year,” Fleischman said. “I’m hoping that, for the sake of good government in Belleville, town council candidates will be equally receptive.”

• See Related: Belleville 2024 Election: List Of Town Council Candidates

THE PLEDGE

I am a ward candidate for Belleville Township Council. If elected, I pledge:

• To remember I am accountable to the Belleville community and all its residents.
• To encourage Belleville residents to attend Township Council and municipal board meetings.
• To communicate with the community regularly, comprehensively and in a timely manner about issues and important votes the Township Council will consider.
• To strive for the highest possible levels of transparency in local government.
• To strive to provide as many opportunities for public input on Township matters as reasonably possible.
• To explain my vote on key issues, or reasons why I abstain from a vote, unless doing so would violate confidentiality or would disclose personal details.
• To serve out my full term.
• To stay informed of issues in the Belleville community.
• If I seek re-election, I will be prepared to describe specifically what I have done during my term to deserve the voters’ continued trust and confidence.
• To remember that elected office is a public trust.
• To avoid even the mere appearance of impropriety in my public conduct and decisions, and to hold myself to the highest ethical standards as an elected official. I will expect and encourage the same from the mayor and my fellow councilmembers.
• To remember that my public behavior reflects on me as an elected official.

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