Nine Candidates Vie for Vacant New Bedford School Committee Seat

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — Nine people, including some recognizable names, have applied to fill the vacant seat on the New Bedford School Committee following the passing of longtime member Bruce Oliveira last year.

How the Selection Process Will Work

The nine applicants will present their qualifications and make a statement in support of their candidacies before a joint convention of the New Bedford City Council and the remaining members of the School Committee on Wednesday, January 7 at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers at City Hall.

Per Massachusetts General Law, it is this joint convention, which includes Mayor Jon Mitchell in his role as Chair Ex Officio of the School Committee, that will determine who fills the remainder of Oliveira’s term, which runs through the end of 2027.

Qualifications of Those Who Applied for the Vacant School Committee Seat

Below is a summary of each of the nine candidates, with a link to their full applications on the City of New Bedford website.

Eldric Abreu

Got involved with local education issues in 2019 through the New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools
Lifelong New Bedford resident, graduate of New Bedford High, and a parent raising his family here
Served for two years as the Community Outreach Coordinator for WHALE (Waterfront Historic Area League), assisting with education, youth engagement, and community access through preservation projects
Served as a Community Resilience Ambassador with Kim Lundgren Associates on the NB Resilient climate and resilience planning process
Works as a Resident Researcher with the Healthy Neighborhoods Study in partnership with MIT and the Conservation Law Foundation
Serves on local boards and committees, including the Cape Verdean Recognition Committee, and collaborates regularly with youth-serving organizations, neighborhood groups, and city partners

Erin Alvarado

Served as the Vice President of the Parent Booster Club at Alma Del Mar Charter School for four years, championing initiatives that strengthened the school community and supported students.
As a 7D driver for a student in the Wareham district, gained firsthand knowledge of the challenges children face in their educational journeys
Her children have attended a range of schools, from Little Whalers Nursery School to New Bedford High School

Lee Blake

Executive Director of New Bedford Historical Society
Retired educator who began her career at New Bedford High School and spent over 30 years as a teacher and educational program administrator
Spent 17 years as Director of the Campus Compact Center for University School Partnerships at UMass Dartmouth
Former Development Officer for the New Bedford Economic Development Council
Spent four years as the Executive Director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Education Services under Mayor David Dinkins

Henry Bousquet

Five years as Ward 3 City Councilor, including serving on the City Council-School Committee joint finance committee
20 years of experience in public education as a Career Technical Educator
10 years as an entrepreneur chef/owner
Graduate of Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School
Degree from Bristol Community College along with another hundred or so college credits in educator preparation and licensure course

Marcus Coward

Recently ran for School Committee, placing third (3,182 votes) in a three-person race for two open seats behind Richard Porter (3,536) and Von Marie Moniz (3,310).
Worked as a paraprofessional at Nativity Prep in 2023-2024
Works as a lead guide at Youth Opportunities Unlimited, working with New Bedford elementary, middle, and high school students
Creator of the Wake Up New Bedford podcast
Member of the New Bedford Human Rights Commission
U.S. Army veteran
Deacon and Sunday School teacher
Volunteers as Director of Operations with the New Bedford Health Initiative

Eric Paul Dorman

Moved to New Bedford from Detroit in 2001
Serves as lead pastor of the Family Worship Center in Lakeville for the past 20 years
Works full-time in the New Bedford District Court as the Specialty Court Coordinator, which oversees the Recovery and Mental Health Courts
Member of the Community Crisis Intervention Team
Chaplain for the New Bedford Police Department
Grandfather of a student in New Bedford Public Schools

Jose Galarza Jr.

More than 20 years of experience in financial management, contracts, grants, procurement, and operational oversight at UMass Dartmouth
Served at Bridgewater State University, managing aviation and airport operations
Mobilized over 600 gallons of water for Puerto Rico during Hurricane Maria and for Michigan during its water crisis
Helped coordinate the donation of over one million meals to families in Africa
Small business owner
Actively works with Whaling City Junior & Senior High School, supporting youth engagement and development
Volunteers with My Brother’s Keeper
Father raising his children in New Bedford

Brad Markey

Former Ward 1 City Councilor
Served as chair of Finance Committee, working with members of the School Committee and School Department to secure location and financing for Central Kitchen
Resident of New Bedford for over 35 years
Two daughters went through New Bedford Public Schools
Parents were both educators in New Bedford Public Schools, and his father retired as principal of Keith Middle School

Cheryl Viveiros

Spent 32 and a half years as a teacher in New Bedford Public Schools, including 30 years as a Social Studies and History teacher at New Bedford High School, before retiring in June 2020
Certified principal/assistant principal
Currently employed part-time for Bridgewater State University, training Teacher Candidates during their practicum and helping the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education determine eligibility for licensure
Formerly served as a seasonal ranger at the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and volunteered at the New Bedford Whaling Museum