Campaign Phone
(302)408-0530
Neighborhood/area of residence
Northminster
Education
BS-Chemical Engineering from Kansas State University
Work Experience
38 Years with the DuPont Company (Performance Coatings) & Axalta Coating Systems in various Engineering, Operations & Supply Chain leadership roles. Retired as the Global Supply Chain Manager for Resins.
Community Involvement
Active in his church with roles including chairman of Church Council, Church Treasurer and Adult Sunday School Teacher.
Additional Information
Retired from his corporate role and prepared to work full time for his constituents in Representative District 10.
Delaware has seen over 30 years of essentially single-party rule. We need to bring balance, common sense and fiscal responsibility to our state government. Spending has increased by nearly 10%/year, yet we face an outlook of decreasing revenue.
We need to focus on key performance areas and NOT continue to drive a progressive social agenda.
Our public education system is broken. We spend in the top 10, yet our student performance ranks 46th. Resources should be focused on teachers and the classrooms versus complex administration and services. Addressing student discipline and more effectively managing disruptive behavior is critical.
Poor performance in our education system is driving away corporations and good job opportunities.
A combination of local policing, a strong social services support system (coordinating with local charitable, non-profit organizations) and an increased focus on mental health services is needed. Chronic homelessness can be largely be traced to untreated mental illness.
We need to clear the streets of chronic homeless and provide suitable support and mental health services.
Reproductive choice begins with personal responsibility and the availability of contraception. I believe the role of government is to protect the lives of both the mother and the child. Government should prioritize actions that support choices outside of abortion - early childhood resources and adoption. Public funds should not be used to subsidize abortions.
Current Delaware law allows for abortion up to the point of viability, based solely on the judgment of the attending physician. I believe there needs to be additional clarification regarding the definition of viability. I support a ban on late term abortion, with an exception to protect the life of the mother.
This is an extreme that is not part of our current Delaware experience. We need to have effective regulations that ensure compliance by our water providers and a reliable supply of clean, drinkable water. There are always circumstances where system failures (e.g. pipe ruptures) lead to a very temporary need for a boil order. These must always be temporary and we need to focus resources on maintaining the health and reliability of our water supply system.
No. I believe there needs to be a high priority on controlling immigration into our country in accordance with a well-conceived plan that allows for a refreshing flow of new immigrants into the opportunities of the US, addresses the needs to fill certain skilled roles and to provide relief for true refugees from various persecutions.
Resources for healthcare, housing and financial services should first be allocated to citizens and legal residents in need, with special attention given to veterans. Providing these services to individuals the choose to violate our immigration laws simply encourages lawless behaviors.
Strongly oppose
Oppose
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Support
Strongly support
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
Campaign Phone
302-518-0166
Neighborhood/area of residence
Chalfonte
Education
MPA, Health Policy 2005, B.A. Political Science & Women's Studies 2003
Work Experience
Melanie has spent her career working on behalf of low-income women and children. For the past 7 years she has served as the Director of the state's Women's Office. As the Director, she has contributed significantly to groundbreaking wins across Delaware, including the passage of Paid Family and Medical Leave, the best paid parental leave benefit for state workers in the country; increasing the minimum wage; the first ban on child marriage in the United States; the Equal Rights Amendment; expanding Medicaid coverage to pregnant women and protecting pregnant workers. Melanie previously served as the Director of Engagement and Mobilization at the National Women's Law Center. In this capacity, she led advocacy campaigns to protect Social Security, advance pay equity, protect Title IX athletics and expand early childhood education. Earlier in her career Melanie worked for Senator Carper, Planned Parenthood of Delaware and as a Fellow in the Delaware General Assembly.
Community Involvement
Melanie serves on the University of Delaware Hillel Board of Directors and is an active member of Congregation Beth Emeth. Melanie is leading the state effort to build Delaware’s first educational Holocaust memorial in Dover. The memorial will honor Delaware's holocaust survivors, righteous gentiles and liberators from the armed forces.
Additional Information
www.instagram.com/melaniefordelaware
Delaware faces significant challenges in healthcare access, including the lack of affordable, high-quality care, a shortage of doctors, and rising healthcare costs that strain family budgets. To address these issues, I propose expanding Medicaid and state-funded healthcare programs. This expansion would help cover more people, reducing the number of uninsured individuals and making healthcare more affordable for low- and middle-income families. Additionally, we need to incentivize medical professionals to practice in underserved areas with loan forgiveness, competitive salaries, and improved working conditions. We also need to implement cost-control measures like price transparency and promoting preventative care.
First, we need to boost affordable housing by increasing funding for low-income housing development and encourage developers to include affordable units. We should also invest in emergency shelters and supportive services that provide not only a place to stay but also job training, counseling, and other resources to help individuals regain stability. Preventing homelessness is equally important. I support legislation for financial assistance to those at risk of eviction and rent subsidies for families in need. Working closely with local nonprofits and community organizations to enhance outreach and support is crucial. Additionally, investing in job creation programs is key.
The government is responsible for protecting every woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices. Throughout my career, I have been steadfast in my commitment to this cause, working diligently at organizations such as Planned Parenthood of Delaware, the National Women’s Law Center, and the Delaware Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy. These experiences have solidified my belief in the importance of safeguarding the confidential and private relationship between patients and their physicians. As a State Representative, I will persist in this fight, advocating tirelessly for comprehensive coverage of all reproductive health care needs. This includes crucial services such as abortion, IVF, and birth control.
To prevent boil water advisories in Delaware, I support investing in infrastructure upgrades for water treatment and distribution systems and ensuring regular monitoring and maintenance to catch contaminants early. Developing strong emergency response plans is also essential to address any potential contamination incidents quickly and effectively. Protecting source water areas from pollution, enhancing public education on water conservation, and implementing legislation to uphold high water quality standards are crucial steps. By taking these measures, we can provide safe, clean drinking water to all Delaware residents and significantly reduce the risk of boil water advisories.
Yes, I would support these measures in Delaware. I believe our state should be a place where everyone, including immigrants, has the opportunity to thrive. I support expanding access to healthcare, housing, and financial services for immigrants, as these are essential for stable, healthy, and prosperous lives. Ensuring affordable healthcare improves public health, stable housing strengthens communities, and access to financial services empowers economic participation. These measures reflect Delaware's values of fairness and inclusivity, and I am committed to policies that help all residents succeed, regardless of their immigration status.
Strongly oppose
Oppose
Neither support nor oppose
Support
Strongly support
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
