Melanie is a public interest attorney, community leader, and mother of three whose life and career have been dedicated to service.

Experienced Leadership

For the past several years, Melanie has served as Policy and Government Affairs Director for Promote the Vote, where she has led a broad coalition of Michigan and national organizations working to protect and expand voting rights. After Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved constitutional amendments to strengthen our democracy, Melanie worked alongside legislators, election administrators, and local clerks to help modernize Michigan election law and implement some of the most significant voting reforms in the state’s history.

Those reforms included establishing early voting, creating the permanent mail ballot list, expanding ballot tracking, and allowing eligible 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote. The work has helped make Michigan a national leader in ballot access and election administration while demonstrating how state governments can protect fundamental rights when they are threatened at the national level.

What was accomplished in the democracy space on the state level here in Michigan has provided a perfect example of how state legislatures can act to protect their residents from the systematic dismantling of our rights and protections on the national level. Being part of this fight for our democracy is what is driving Melanie to run for the state legislature 

Rooted in Community

Melanie’s commitment to public service began long before her work in voting rights. Raised by a hospital chaplain mother and a college professor father, she learned early that we all have responsibilities to one another and to the communities we share. Her parents instilled in her a belief that service is not simply something you do on weekends; it is a lifelong commitment to helping others and strengthening the institutions that bring people together.

That commitment led Melanie to pursue a career in public interest law and eventually to local elected office. In 2017, she joined the ranks of first-time female candidates across the nation and ran for the Royal Oak City Commission to help solve problems, strengthen community connections, and ensure local government remained responsive to residents. Over eight years on the Commission, Melanie built a reputation for thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to tackle difficult challenges.

During her time in local government, Royal Oak made significant investments in parks, recreation, the senior center, and accessibility improvements that expanded opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities. Melanie supported innovative programs such as the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan (S-CAP) and responsible contractor ordinance, helped create the city’s first human rights commission, worked to strengthen services for older adults, and championed family-focused amenities, including the Normandy Oaks splash pad and upgraded neighborhood playgrounds. 

Throughout her service, Melanie focused on finding practical solutions rather than political talking points. Whether helping implement statewide voting reforms, building local coalitions, expanding community programs, or advocating for infrastructure investments, she has consistently worked to bring people together and turn good ideas into meaningful results.

Melanie and her husband, Ned, are raising their three children in Southeast Michigan. Like many families, they are thinking about the future they want their children to inherit: strong public schools, safe and welcoming communities, economic opportunity, protected rights, and a healthy environment. Melanie is running because she believes public service is about stepping up when your community needs you, and she is ready to bring her experience, values, and record of results to Lansing.