Campaign website
www.facebook.com/melissaforphilly
What is one life experience you have that voters should know about?
While attending Temple University in 2011 as a full time student and mother of four, I lost my rental property and ended up homeless. My children were sent temporarily out of state to live with family members and I continued school while sleeping in my car. While students in my class created a homeless prevention co-op they had no clue that one of their peers was experiencing this very issue. I eventually secured housing through the Veterans Administration as an army medic veteran.
What would be your top three policy priorities in office?
- Inventory and audit all city-owned properties and conduct a cost analysis of renovation and upgrades using revenue generated from the 1% construction tax
- Advocating and securing votes to advance an elected school board and champion the building of new schools
- End the tax abatement and identify independent tax assessor so properties can be taxed based on their actual property value
What sets you apart from other candidates?
My commitment to public service began at age nineteen when I entered the United States military. I spent over a decade consecutively working on campaigns and have trained some of the other currently candidates running. I’ve worked as a civil rights activist and leader. I’ve worked on campaigns from presidential down to city council. I’ve worked as a political strategist, analyst, radio personality, campaign manager, lobbyist, and coalition builder on the federal, state, and local level.
How do you plan to work across ideological lines to achieve shared goals?
By placing humanity above all else, I will always prioritize the needs of families, communities, and constituency groups. I am committed to serving all Philadelphians and lifting our great city out of generational poverty.
The Committee of Seventy has partnered with the Carter Center to promote the Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections to improve the voting process, encourage honest leadership, and promote civic engagement. Do you support the Candidate Principles?
Yes
