Values Matter
As the only Democrat in the race, Melanie will
- Protect our community and immigrant neighbors from Trump administration policies
- Defend voter-approved civilian oversight of law enforcement while supporting our officers
- Build mutual-aid capacity for climate resilience and disaster response
- Lead on the housing crisis and homelessness, water security, clean energy, and transportation
- Champion family agriculture, local food systems, small business, and job training
Fighting for the residents of Sonoma County for over 15 years
- As Mayor, Councilmember, and Planning Commissioner, fought for housing, affordability, walkability, and healthy communities
- As a small business owner, environmentalist, and community activist, builds strong coalitions and delivers results
- As a community leader, responds to crises while planning for a better future
Background
Melanie is currently an elected delegate representing Assembly District 2 at the California Democratic Party, represents Sonoma County's Fourth District on the Sonoma County Democratic Central Committee, and is a founding member and serves on the executive board of the Cloverdale Democratic Club.
Born in Petaluma and raised in the Larkfield-Wikiup area of Santa Rosa, she is a 25-year resident of Cloverdale. With 20+ years as an IT professional, she currently operates an IT consulting company with her husband and brings this experience and perspective to her community and regional work.
In 2016, Melanie was elected to the Cloverdale City Council. Previously, she served on the Cloverdale Planning Commission 2009-2015, five as chair; as Supervisor Mike McGuire's then Supervisor James Gore's appointee to the Sonoma County Economic Development Board; and as one of Cloverdale's appointees to Climate Action 2020. She is a 2009 Fellow of the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy and was an active participant in Cloverdale's General Plan revision and Urban Growth Boundary community input process.
2024 Boards
Cloverdale City Council Planning & Sustainability Subcommittee, Chair
Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Legislative Committee, Chair
Sonoma County Transportation Authority/Regional Climate Protection Authority Board of Directors (SCTA/RCPA), Vice Chair
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) Board of Directors, Vice Chair
Great Redwood Trail Agency (GRTA) Board of Directors
ZeroWaste Sonoma Board of Directors
Russian River Watershed Association Board of Directors, Alternate
League of California Cities Board of Directors, At-large Appointee
League of California Cities Redwood Empire Division Legislative Committee, Chair
League of California Cities Policy Committee: Transportation, Communications and Public Works Committee.
Previously
League of California Cities Policy Committee: Governance, Transparency & Labor Relations, Vice Chair
League of California Cities Policy Committee: Environmental Quality
League of California Cities: Redwood Division, President
League of California Cities: Mayors & Councilmembers Division, President
League of California Cities: Rural Information Exchange, Liaison to Executive Board (and founding member)
Russian River Watershed Association, Chair
Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control Board, Chair
Sonoma Clean Power Board of Directors, Chair