The real prize is political capital, not the unpaid position itself.
Em Jardim Camburi, o maior bairro de Vitória com cerca de 50 mil habitantes, quatro candidatos disputam a presidência de uma associação comunitária sem remuneração e sem patrimônio a gerir — mas com peso político considerável. A eleição, marcada para 25 de abril, reúne deputados estaduais, vereadores e figuras do executivo municipal em torno de uma disputa que transcende o voluntariado e antecipa os movimentos das eleições municipais de 2026. É o tipo de arena onde o poder informal revela suas ambições antes que os holofotes formais se acendam.
- A corrida pela Acjac mobilizou uma constelação de apoios políticos — do PT ao Novo, passando por deputados estaduais e vereadores — transformando uma eleição de bairro em ensaio geral para 2026.
- A candidata incumbente Arlete Pereira enfrenta resistência ao projeto Mergulhão e reivindica o direito dos moradores à consulta pública, enquanto seus adversários divergem sobre os benefícios da obra.
- Enock Sampaio, ex-presidente com a coalizão mais ampla, recusa-se a anunciar sua plataforma antes de construí-la coletivamente — uma aposta na negociação que pode ser força ou fragilidade.
- Tercelino Leite, bombeiro e filho de vereador, apresenta a chapa mais estruturada e já projeta uma possível candidatura ao legislativo em 2028, revelando o caráter de trampolim que a presidência da associação representa.
- Jomas Barbosa aposta na renovação e na independência política, mas sua proximidade com um deputado estadual tensiona o discurso de candidato sem amarras.
- Com a comissão eleitoral formada em 15 de abril e o voto marcado para o dia 25, o resultado definirá não apenas quem lidera o bairro, mas quem ganha vantagem simbólica na disputa política que já começou.
Em Jardim Camburi, bairro de quase 50 mil habitantes em Vitória, uma eleição tecnicamente modesta — para a presidência de uma associação comunitária sem remuneração e sem patrimônio — tornou-se palco de uma disputa política de proporções bem maiores. Com votação prevista para 25 de abril, o pleito atraiu o interesse de vereadores, deputados estaduais e aliados do executivo municipal, todos enxergando na Acjac uma plataforma valiosa para as eleições de 2026.
Quatro candidatos se apresentam com perfis e apoios distintos. Arlete Pereira, professora de 62 anos filiada ao PT, busca a reeleição após sete meses no cargo. Sua principal bandeira é a oposição ao projeto Mergulhão — uma obra de mobilidade planejada pela prefeitura que, segundo ela, nunca foi debatida com os moradores e beneficiaria mais o município vizinho de Serra do que o próprio bairro. Ela conta com o apoio de deputados petistas e destaca ser apenas a segunda mulher a presidir a associação desde 1986.
Enock Sampaio, advogado e empresário de 66 anos com passagem anterior pela presidência da Acjac, reúne a coalizão mais ampla — incluindo o vereador Bruno Malias e deputados de diferentes espectros. Declarado apoiador do prefeito Lorenzo Pazolini, ele prefere construir sua plataforma de forma coletiva antes de anunciá-la publicamente.
Tercelino Leite, bombeiro de 41 anos e filho do vereador Maurício Leite, apresenta-se como o candidato com a chapa mais definida. Seu programa inclui transparência nas matrículas escolares, ampliação do transporte público e novas estruturas de saúde e segurança. Ele apoia o Mergulhão e não esconde a ambição de suceder o pai no legislativo em 2028.
Jomas Barbosa, advogado de 46 anos filiado ao Novo, posiciona-se como o candidato da renovação, crítico da concentração de poder nas mesmas lideranças. Embora afirme não ter apoio político organizado, mantém proximidade com um deputado estadual — uma contradição que seus adversários não deixam de notar.
O resultado, qualquer que seja, não ficará restrito às fronteiras do bairro: em Vitória, até os cargos sem poder formal se tornam disputados quando oferecem visibilidade suficiente para moldar o que vem a seguir.
In Jardim Camburi, a neighborhood of nearly 50,000 people in Vitória, the machinery of politics is already grinding toward an election—but not the one scheduled for 2026. Instead, the state's most populous district is preparing for a competitive race to lead its community association, a contest that has drawn the attention of city council members, state legislators, and municipal officials who see the outcome as a test run for larger political ambitions.
Four candidates are positioning themselves for the presidency of the Associação Comunitária de Jardim Camburi, or Acjac, with voting expected to take place on April 25. The election itself is technically modest: the position is unpaid, the association holds no property to manage, and the term runs three years. Yet the real prize is political capital. Whoever leads Acjac gains a platform in a neighborhood large enough to serve as a launching pad for higher office, and the election has become a proxy battle between competing factions vying for influence in Vitória's political landscape.
Arlete Pereira, a 62-year-old teacher and the current president, is seeking reelection. She has held the position for seven months, having assumed leadership when her predecessor, Bruno Malias, was elected to city council. Pereira is affiliated with the Workers' Party and has spent more than four decades in grassroots activism. Her campaign is backed by state deputies João Coser and Iriny Lopes of the PT, along with Camila Valadão of the Socialist Party of Labor, and city council members Professor Jocelino and Karla Coser. Her signature issue is opposition to the Mergulhão, an ambitious mobility project planned by the city that would run between Camburi's waterfront and the North-South Avenue. Pereira argues the project was never discussed with residents, lacks public hearings, and will damage the neighborhood while primarily benefiting the neighboring municipality of Serra. She is the only woman in the race and has emphasized the significance of female leadership in the association—she is only the second woman to serve as president since 1986. On the current mayor, Lorenzo Pazolini, she takes a conditional stance: she has nothing against him personally, but his refusal to listen and dialogue with the community puts her in opposition.
Enock Sampaio, a 66-year-old lawyer and businessman, previously led Acjac from 2016 to 2019 and served as vice president before that. He is affiliated with the Christian Democracy party and ran for city council last year, though he has committed to supporters that he will not seek electoral office in 2026 or 2028. Sampaio appears to have assembled the broadest coalition of political support. According to reporting, he has backing from community leaders Juninho Barbarioli and Evandro Figueiredo, city council member Bruno Malias, and state deputies Fabrício Gandini and Capitão Assumção. When asked whether he had truly managed to unite all these groups, Sampaio demurred, saying he was still in conversation with various political, community, and religious segments. He declined to announce his main campaign platform before forming his slate, preferring to build it collectively. On the mayor, he is unambiguous: he supports Pazolini and sees him as doing excellent work for the community.
Tercelino Leite, 41, is a firefighter and the son of city council member Maurício Leite. He has no party affiliation and has never run for office, but he harbors political ambitions. He claims to have the most defined slate, with Alexandre Testinha, a singer and community leader who works for the city, as his running mate. Leite's backers include the mayor's office, state deputies Denninho Silva and Bispo Alves, and his father, along with other council members who have constituents in Jardim Camburi. His platform centers on transparency in municipal school enrollment, expanded bus service, increased police presence, establishment of a Samu emergency base and fire station, and construction of an additional health clinic and urgent care facility. He supports the Mergulhão project and frames himself as an advocate for dialogue with city government. He also suggests he may be the natural successor to his father's council seat in 2028.
Jomas Barbosa, 46, is a lawyer and parliamentary advisor at the state assembly. He is positioning himself as the independent candidate, arguing that the neighborhood has been dominated by the same leadership for too long and needs renewal. He is affiliated with the Novo party, ran for city council in 2020, and has not committed to running again in 2028, saying his focus is currently on the association. He serves on the neighborhood's security council and claims to have assembled a complete slate, though he has not revealed all positions. He says he has no backing from political groups, though he is close to state deputy Adilson Espíndula. His platform emphasizes prioritizing residents' interests, management renewal, and preventing the association from becoming captive to any single political faction. On Pazolini, he takes a pragmatic view: he supports the citizen and acknowledges the mayor has delivered results, though with minor shortcomings.
The electoral commission will be formed on April 15, and the vote is scheduled for April 25, with the winner's three-year term extending until 2028. The race reflects a broader pattern in Vitória's politics: even positions without formal power or resources become battlegrounds when they offer visibility and influence in a city where the next municipal election is already taking shape.
Citações Notáveis
This expensive, time-consuming project was never discussed with the community and will harm Jardim Camburi while benefiting Serra—why should only Vitória bear the cost?— Arlete Pereira, on the Mergulhão project
The neighborhood has had the same leadership for a long time. We're proposing renewal.— Jomas Barbosa, on his independent candidacy
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does a voluntary, unpaid position in a neighborhood association draw this much political firepower?
Because it's a stage. Fifty thousand people live there. Whoever leads it becomes a visible figure in a large, cohesive community. In a city where the next election is already being positioned, that visibility matters.
So it's really about 2026?
Partly. But it's also about who controls the neighborhood's voice right now. The association can pressure the city on issues—like the Mergulhão project—or it can cooperate. That's real power, even if there's no salary attached.
The candidates seem to have very different views on the mayor. Does that split the neighborhood?
It does. Arlete opposes him on the Mergulhão; Tercelino supports him. Enock and Jomas are more measured. The election will show which vision of the neighborhood's relationship to city government has more support.
What's the Mergulhão actually about?
It's a major mobility project—expensive, long-term, meant to connect the waterfront to the North-South Avenue. Arlete says it was never discussed with residents and will hurt Camburi while benefiting Serra. Others see it as necessary infrastructure. It's become the symbolic issue in this race.
Tercelino seems like an obvious successor to his father's council seat. Is that already decided?
Not officially. But he's positioning himself that way. He's young, he's from the neighborhood, he's been coordinating his father's campaigns. If he wins the association presidency, it strengthens that narrative.
And Jomas is the real outsider here?
He's trying to be. He's running on renewal and independence, saying the neighborhood has been locked in the same power structures too long. Whether voters see him as genuinely independent or just another ambitious lawyer is the open question.