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Quick Facts
Personal Details

Melissa A. Melendez is a Republican member of the California State Assembly, representing District 67. She was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

Melendez attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. She earned her B.A. in history and political studies and her M.B.A. in June 2008. She served in the United States Navy for ten years.

Education

  • Attended, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California
  • BA, History/Political Studies, Chaminade University of Honolulu
  • MBA, University of Phoenix, 2008

Professional Experience

  • Attended, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California
  • BA, History/Political Studies, Chaminade University of Honolulu
  • MBA, University of Phoenix, 2008
  • President/Chief Executive Officer, Ruling Transcription, 1999-present
  • Former Academic Advisor, Chaminade University
  • Russian Translator, United States Navy, 1987-1997

Political Experience

  • Attended, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California
  • BA, History/Political Studies, Chaminade University of Honolulu
  • MBA, University of Phoenix, 2008
  • President/Chief Executive Officer, Ruling Transcription, 1999-present
  • Former Academic Advisor, Chaminade University
  • Russian Translator, United States Navy, 1987-1997
  • Senator, California State Senate, District 28, 2020-present
  • Former Mayor, City of Lake Elsinore
  • Former Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Lake Elsinore
  • Assembly Member, California State Assembly, District 67, 2012-2020
  • Candidate, California State Senate, District 28, 2020
  • Candidate, California State Assembly, District 67, 2018
  • Member, Lake Elsinore City Council, 2008-2012

Former Committees/Caucuses

Former Member, Banking and Finance Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Budget Committee, California State Assembly

Former Vice Chair, Budget Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Community College Affordability and Guided Pathways for Students Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Emerging Technologies Committee, California State Assembly

Former Vice Chair, Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Governmental Organization Committee, California State Assembly

Former Vice Chair, Insurance Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy, California State Assembly

Former Member, Joint Committee on Emergency Management, California State Assembly

Former Member, Joint Committee on the Legislative Budget, California State Assembly

Former Member, Local Government Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Natural Resources Committee, California State Assembly

Former Vice Chair, Public Safety Committee, California State Assembly

Former Vice Chair, Public Safety Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Regional Transportation and Interconnectivity Solutions Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Revenue and Taxation Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Select Committee on Foster Care, California State Assembly

Former Member, Select Committee on Homelessness, California State Assembly

Former Member, Small Business in the Inland Empire, California State Assembly

Former Member, Subcommittee 5 on Public Safety, California State Assembly

Former Member, Subcommittee 6 on Budget Process Oversight and Program Evaluation, California State Assembly

Former Member, Transportation Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Veterans Affairs Committee, California State Assembly

Former Member, Women in the Workplace Committee, California State Assembly

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • Attended, Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California
  • BA, History/Political Studies, Chaminade University of Honolulu
  • MBA, University of Phoenix, 2008
  • President/Chief Executive Officer, Ruling Transcription, 1999-present
  • Former Academic Advisor, Chaminade University
  • Russian Translator, United States Navy, 1987-1997
  • Senator, California State Senate, District 28, 2020-present
  • Former Mayor, City of Lake Elsinore
  • Former Mayor Pro Tempore, City of Lake Elsinore
  • Assembly Member, California State Assembly, District 67, 2012-2020
  • Candidate, California State Senate, District 28, 2020
  • Candidate, California State Assembly, District 67, 2018
  • Member, Lake Elsinore City Council, 2008-2012
  • Member, American Legion, present
  • Coach/Team Manager, American Youth Soccer Organziation, present
  • Board Member, Boys & Girls Club, Alberhill Ranch, present
  • Board Member, Elsinore Valley Arts Network, present
  • Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, present
  • Member, Lake Elsinore Friends of the Library, present
  • Member, Lake Elsinore Storm Booster Club, present
  • Member, Lake Elsinore Woman’s Club, present
  • Board Member, National Advisory Board, Grand Old Party (GOP) Political Action Committee, present
  • Member, National Rifle Association, present
  • Volunteer, Neighborhood Community Activities Committee, present
  • Board Member, Southwest Riverside Autism Task Force, present
  • Representative, Chamber of Commerce, City of Lake Elsinore
  • Former President, Home Owners Association
  • Board Member, Lake Elsinore San Jacinto Watershed Authority
  • Former President, Parent-Teachers Association (PTA)
  • Board Member, Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency
  • Board Member, Riverside County Transportation Commission
  • Board Member, Western Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority

Other Info

Favorite Movie:

"Meet the Parents"

  • "Planes, Trains and Automobiles"
  • "School of Rock"
  • Favorite Quote:

    "When something is wrong, it's wrong even if everyone else is doing it, and when something is right, it's right even if no one is doing it." - Anonymous (and also my grandmother)

    Hobbies or Special Talents:

    Perusing cook books, (which must have pictures!), cooking, reading books on history and politics, wakeboarding, and of course playing with my kids!

    Spouse's Occupation:

    Employee, Department of Homeland Security; United States Navy Veteran; Commander, Active Naval Reserve Unit

    Policy Positions

    California State Legislative Election 2012 Political Courage Test

    Abortion & Reproductive

    1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
    - Pro-life

    2. Should abortions be illegal after the first trimester of pregnancy?
    - Yes

    3. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
    - No

    4. Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
    - Yes

    7. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for abortion procedures?
    - Yes

    8. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
    - Yes

    9. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Budget, Spending, & Tax

    State Spending:

    Using the key, indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

    1. Education (higher)
    - Maintain Status

    2. Education (K-12)
    - Maintain Status

    3. Environment
    - Greatly Decrease

    4. Health care
    - Greatly Decrease

    5. Law enforcement/corrections
    - Slightly Increase

    6. Transportation/infrastructure
    - Maintain Status

    7. Welfare
    - Greatly Decrease

    8. Other or expanded categories
    - No Answer

    State Taxes:

    Using the key,indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.

    1. Alcohol taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    2. Tobacco taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    3. Corporate taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    4. Gas/Oil taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    5. Property taxes
    - Slightly Decrease

    6. Sales taxes
    - Greatly Decrease

    7. Income taxes (low-income families)
    - Greatly Decrease

    8. Income taxes (mid-income families)
    - Greatly Decrease

    9. Income taxes (high-income families)
    - Greatly Decrease

    10. Other or expanded categories
    - No Answer

    Budget Stabilization:

    Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing California's budget by marking Yes (Y) or No (N).

    1. Tapping into California's "rainy day" fund
    - No

    2. Increasing tuition rates at public universities
    - No

    3. Reducing or eliminating public worker collective bargaining
    - Yes

    4. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions
    - Yes

    5. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees
    - Yes

    6. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
    - Yes

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Public Pensions:

    To mitigate California's public pension shortfall, do you support:

    1. Increasing contributions by current and future employees?
    - Yes

    2. Hybrid retirement plans that combine guaranteed and privately-managed benefits?
    - Yes

    3. Raising the retirement age for new employees?
    - Yes

    4. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Campaign Finance & Government Reform

    Do you support limits on the following types of contributions for state candidates?

    1. Individual
    - No

    2. Political Action Committee
    - No

    3. Corporate
    - No

    4. Political Party
    - No

    5. Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
    - No

    6. Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
    - Yes

    7. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
    - Yes

    8. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
    - Yes

    9. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Crime & Public Safety

    1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support the California prison realignment program?
    - No

    3. Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana?
    - No

    5. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
    - Yes

    6. Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges?
    - Yes

    7. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
    - Yes

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - As Mayor for the City of Lake Elsinore, I implement E-Verify by city ordinance in the interest of enforcing immigration law.

    Economic

    1. Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
    - Yes

    2. Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
    - No

    4. Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support the high speed rail project between San Francisco and Los Angeles?
    - No

    7. Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
    - No

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Education

    1. Do you support the national Common Core State Standards initiative?
    - No

    2. Do you support a merit pay system for teachers?
    - Yes

    3. Is the tenure process for public school teachers producing effective teachers?
    - No

    4. Should parents be allowed to use vouchers to send their children to any school?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
    - Yes

    7. Should illegal immigrants who graduate from California high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
    - No

    8. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Environment & Energy

    1. Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
    - No

    2. Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
    - No

    3. Do you support state funding for improvements to California's energy infrastructure?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
    - Yes

    5. Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
    - No

    6. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Gun

    1. Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
    - No

    2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
    - No

    3. Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?
    - Yes

    4. Should a license be required for gun possession?
    - No

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Health

    1. Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
    - No

    2. Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
    - Yes

    4. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
    - No

    5. Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
    - Yes

    6. Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
    - No

    7. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Social

    1. Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
    - Yes

    2. Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?
    - Yes

    3. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in California's anti-discrimination laws?
    - No

    4. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in California's anti-discrimination laws?
    - No

    5. Other or expanded principles
    - No Answer

    Legislative Priorities

    In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
    - In the following area, on an attached page, or via e-mail, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

    State Bills
    Events

    2020

    May 12
    Apr. 3
    Donate Blood with Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez

    Fri 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM PDT

    Diamond Club Restaurant at Storm Stadium Lake Elsinore, CA