Rod Belleza draws on finance, law and community work in bid for another Richmond school board term

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 09, 2026

Photo Courtesy: ARCA

Rod Belleza is seeking another term as a Richmond school trustee, bringing a background in finance, law and community service to the October 17, 2026 municipal and school election.

Belleza, an incumbent trustee of the Richmond Board of Education, School District No. 38, is running with the Advance Richmond school board team.

The seven-member school board oversees the district’s educational direction, strategic priorities, policies, budget and use of public funds.

Belleza’s professional experience spans banking, finance and law. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers and practiced law in the Philippines before immigrating to Canada in 1980.

His community involvement in Richmond has also extended for more than three decades, including work with multicultural, youth, family and Filipino Canadian organizations.

That combination of professional and community experience has carried into his work as a trustee, particularly in areas involving financial oversight and governance.

Belleza helped establish the Richmond School District’s Audit Committee, which deals with financial reporting, risk management, internal and external audits, information systems and the budget process. He served as chair of the Audit Committee during the 2025–26 school year.

He has also taken part in the district’s annual budget process. In May 2026, Belleza moved a motion authorizing the board’s chair, superintendent and secretary-treasurer to submit the 2026–27 annual budget to the provincial Ministry of Education and Child Care.

The board’s adopted budget for the fiscal year totals approximately $380.7 million, placing financial planning among the major responsibilities of the trustees.

Belleza has also highlighted student support as part of his work on the board.

The Richmond School District describes him as having supported students experiencing hardship, particularly those affected by child poverty. His trustee profile emphasizes providing students with the opportunities and support they need to reach their potential.

For another term, Belleza has identified stable public education funding, safe and inclusive learning environments, student well-being, student voice and financial literacy among his priorities. His campaign materials also emphasize proactive leadership and parental involvement in education.

His current school liaison assignments include Palmer Secondary, Richmond Virtual School, Bridge Elementary, DeBeck Elementary, Garden City Elementary, General Currie Elementary and Whiteside Elementary.

In January 2026, Belleza was also appointed as the school board’s representative to the Richmond Child Care Development Advisory Committee for the year.

For the 2026 election, Belleza is running alongside school trustee candidates Dean Billings, Danny Chang, Willy Sinconegue, Phyllis Tang and Sophia Woo under Advance Richmond.

The City of Richmond’s official candidate list confirms Belleza’s candidacy, while Advance Richmond identifies him as a three-term Richmond school trustee.

The broader Advance Richmond campaign platform highlights safety, accountability, transparency, economic prosperity, community unity and responsibility. For school board candidates, the organization also identifies education and local representation as key areas of focus.

The Richmond election will determine the seven members of the school board, along with one mayor and eight city councillors.

General Voting Day is October 17, 2026, with advance voting scheduled for October 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10.

For Belleza, the campaign marks a continuation of his involvement in Richmond’s public education system, drawing on his experience in finance, law, governance and community organizations as he seeks another term on the school board.