LAKE ELSINORE: Candidate focusing on future generations
Melissa Melendez wants to increase opportunities for city's youth
By AARON CLAVERIE - Staff Writer | ∞
Melissa Melendez (Photo by Steve Thornton - Staff Photographer) Editor's note: This is the eighth in a series profiling 11 candidates vying for three seats on the Lake Elsinore City Council in the Nov. 4 election.
LAKE ELSINORE ---- Focusing her energies on the city's youth isn't just part of a political campaign for City Council candidate Melissa Melendez.
The 40-year-old owner of a transcription company is a mother of five, and she said she has noted, time and again, that the city does not have the amenities to sustain and engage its youth.
"There's just not enough for them to do," she said. "And it's not just important to the kids. It's important for the parents, too. They need to know that they have things to help them develop."
The issue is important for Melendez because she believes the city's families shouldn't have to leave Lake Elsinore for soccer practice or another type of activity that could be offered locally.
When families are traveling to far-flung locales, they have less quality time to spend together, she said. When there isn't enough for kids to do, they can end up wandering the streets and getting into trouble, she said.
The other candidates competing for the three council seats up for election in November are Barbara Alongi, 72, a retired veterinary technician; Amy Marie Bhutta, 39, a high school English teacher; Carole Feeney, 47, a community volunteer; Planning Commissioner Jimmy Flores, 55; Chris Hyland, 79, a former Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District director; incumbent City Councilman Robert Magee, 45; Steven Manos, 32, a real estate broker; 28-year-old Public Safety Advisory Commission Chairman Michael Norkin; 58-year-old Planning Commissioner Michael O'Neal; and Joyce Smith, 61, executive director for a custom home builder.
To help establish more programs for the city's youth, Melendez said she would support partnering with the school board and community organizations.
"It doesn't have to cost a lot of money," she said.
Another issue important to Melendez is economic development. And, she said, that doesn't mean putting up a "bunch of stores."
"We need jobs that attract varying levels of education ... jobs that attract a different demographic into the city. There are a lot of people who are highly educated, but they can't work here, and they don't spend a lot of time in Lake Elsinore because they work in Orange County or Los Angeles," she said.
While an economic slowdown might not seem like the best time to court businesses, Melendez said now is the perfect time because the city is in the middle of adopting a new general plan.
"We need to make sure that we take care of this now and I hope the general plan addresses some of these issues," she said, referring to the debate on where to slot land zoned for commercial businesses.
Talking about some of the controversial aspects of the city's general plan debate, Melendez said the plan needs to be balanced, not too heavily weighted toward housing.
"We can't have all these people here with nothing to support them," she said.
Some landowners have criticized early drafts of the general plan, saying recommended zoning changes from commercial to residential uses would devalue their land.
Another important issue for Melendez is the state of the city's budget, which is being buffeted by the housing slowdown and dwindling sales tax receipts.
Melendez said the council, which is the steward of the budget, needs to make sure developers are paying their fair share for infrastructure and parks, especially as the city works to tighten its belt to make it through the economic slowdown.
And when she talks about parks, Melendez said, she's referring to something that has more features than Summerhill Park, which she described as a "big field of grass."
Contact staff writer Aaron Claverie at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or aclaverie@californian.com.
Melissa Melendez
-- Age: 40
-- Occupation: Owner of a transcription company
-- Civic involvement: Former Parent-Teacher Association president, volunteer for local youth sports teams
-- Web site: www.vote4melissa.com
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Ms. Youth Savior wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:10 PM:Have you attended any meetings and/or events in our city prior to becoming a candidate for one of the seats. I'm sorry I have never ever heard of you and your platform is very mediocre. Good luck to you anyway. Just to let you know developers do a lot for this town already. How many candidates are going to put down developers? Give me a break. I have my mind made up already on three candidates so has the entire town.
soccer mom wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:00 PM:Transcript writer and a soccer mom. Do we need someone like her to make decisions about us who has no knowledge of the city government? What makes her qualified to do that? All these people are coming out of no where and now trying to get involved in our community. Voters, you have a tough decision to make this year.
Soccer Dad wrote on Sep 10, 2008 6:42 AM:I visited her website, she's no average soccer mom people. she has some great ideas and even better qualifications. i think the negative comments suggest a few people out there are getting a little nervous about their chances of winning, just a hunch.
lin wrote on Sep 10, 2008 8:51 AM:Someone that is realistic and cares about our youth is someone I would consider voting for. I hope Mrs Melendez makes it to the canidates debate I would like to hear more.
dee wrote on Sep 10, 2008 9:00 AM:Im not sure but I believe Mrs. Melendez spent ten years in the military and has an MBA so she is a humble soccer mom, so everyone please be respectful.
Finally an option wrote on Sep 10, 2008 9:37 AM:I think this rookie reporter did a bad job of characterizing this American Navy vet. Perhaps Aaron Claverie could have visted her web site to find out she was in the Navy and served for 10 years. That's what I did. Her veteran status alone earned my vote. Aaron, perhaps you could explain how that criticial element of her qualifications did not make your story? Portraying her as just a "soccer mom" is in poor taste and yes, even sexist. Her web site is full of good ideas and not a hodge podge collaberation of thoughts like so many others out there. Anchors aweigh shipmate.
concerned citizen wrote on Sep 10, 2008 11:25 AM:I went to Mrs. Melendez's web site. I was impressed. An MBA excellent leadership skills .I encourage everyone to take a look. This is a canidate that has the ability to do well. I enc mrs Melendez to get a hard copy of the budget and see where she feels cuts should be made because they must be made. The projections are we will be short a few million. Do your homework and be prepared for the debate.GOOD LUCK! Five kids wow you must have endless energy.
another concerned citizen wrote on Sep 10, 2008 12:01 PM:Re: Concerned citizen, Finally an option
I went to her website too. Where did she get her MBA from? I'm not impressed with her website and her resume. That's just me, please don't try to impose your ideas on the entire city. Mr. Claverie is doing a great job. You just can't make everyone happy. He can't put information in the article from your website if it is not verified.
DJ wrote on Sep 10, 2008 2:06 PM:I love it! A veteran, a mother of 5, educated, common sense, upbeat, positive and energy to burn apparently! She's got my vote, let's get some other energetic people in there too now!
Sherri wrote on Sep 10, 2008 2:18 PM:YAY! YAY! YAY! Someone young, someone who gets it, and someone who is new!! We're cheering at the office!! Get get em Ms. Melendez!!
loonys wrote on Sep 10, 2008 3:43 PM:yay yay ya- you are all loony toons-she doesn't get my vote-yay yay yay
Ex-Marine wrote on Sep 10, 2008 4:15 PM:I like what's she's done with her life so far, makes a good impression in my book. city council isn't supposed to be full of people who think they know it all already, i think this lady will be asking the right questions when she gets in there and get things done. ms. melendez if you're reading this, remember that negative comments are usually made by people who lack self-confidence.
Very sharp wrote on Sep 10, 2008 4:38 PM:I've sent e-mails to Ms. Melendez and she was quick to respond to the issues. She comes across as very sharp, possibly the brightest candidate in this race. I believe the articles have attempted to highlight the differences between the candidates not their top priorities. Since everyone agrees that public safety and the budget are major issues, I'm sure that the other ideas illustrated in the articles reflect the outside-the-box thinking we want and need in city hall. The critical voices on this site are nitpicking articles that aren't written by the candidates themselves. Further, Ms. Melendez has served our country in the military as is her husband. Isn't that the ultimate in community service, not that community service should be a prerequisite for city council? It's interesting though that Ms. Meledez's name doesn't appear in the title of the article. Maybe a slight to the new face?
to loonys wrote on Sep 10, 2008 4:41 PM:Let me guess, you're a 17 year old who likes to cyber-bully, so no one's worried about your vote. Make thoughtful comments or go back to your video games. This is an adult discussion.
A-Veteran wrote on Sep 10, 2008 5:33 PM:She probably got her masters from University of Oklahoma, or the University of Phoenix because those are the two main universities serving our military. She sounds good, looks good too, our own Palin.
This one... wrote on Sep 10, 2008 6:04 PM:is for loonys - I am so sorry for you that you weren't able to make it past the 5th grade in school. Maybe Ms. Melendez will be able to find a way to help you out too, even though you are, no doubt, a gray-haired man over 50. She seems pretty darned competent to me, and if she was willing to serve her country for ten years, she already understands service is a sacrifice and a commitment, not an opportunity to boost her ego. I wish her the best, and every vote in the city.
Please wrote on Sep 10, 2008 10:15 PM:Is there a way to track down who is making these insane nasty comments about these candidates? I'm also curious to know how many nice comments are made by the candidates about themselves. I had my mind up prior to these articles. Everyone has the right to vote for whomever their heart desires. I'm a father of three kids and my wife is a stay at home mom. Our kids like all kids are very needy. If this lady can handle five kids and all the meetings while fullfilling all their needs, then I would like to know her method. My aunt is a former mayor and I remember she always dumped her kids at our house. It is very essential for one of the parents to be at home with the kids at all times. Whoever made that loony toon comment should be ashamed of themselves. There is no room for immature people on this forum.
To Please wrote on Sep 10, 2008 10:43 PM:Excuse me, but you're out of line. I guess we should all only vote for MEN right? Because of course women who have children should never exit the kitchen and try to improve their community. Why would you assume that a candidate, just because she is a woman, would not take care of her kids properly? I suppose you think then that any woman who works outside the home is a bad mother too then? Shame on you. Just because your aunt "dumped her kids" on you doesn't mean every woman out there who does something outside the home should be criticized.
Calm down wrote on Sep 11, 2008 6:25 PM:Oh man, calm down lady. This guy was simply making his point. How are you going to make tough decisions if you can't take honest criticism. I'm sorry Mr. "Please" has a very good point. Good luck to you!
To calm down wrote on Sep 12, 2008 9:26 AM:You calm down out in the real world women express their opinions and their opinions are respected.
Working mom wrote on Sep 12, 2008 10:24 AM:whoever wrote the Please comment made a huge error in judgement and has fired up all us women out here. i work and I still take care of my kids ... don't go busting on women who want to make a difference in the world. now go do something useful like helping to take care of your kids!
Marrissa wrote on Sep 14, 2008 8:36 AM:Your signs, their location, web name, and your platform, it all looks familiar to another candidate that is running.Why????
Please wrote on Sep 14, 2008 3:37 PM:Mrs Bhuttha Mrs Melendezs site looks nothing like yours, and stop bothering her about where she puts her signs, you cant have all the spaces to yourself how selfish! I will be glad when this election is over. Good luck Mrs. Melendez.
Jealousy wrote on Sep 14, 2008 5:13 PM:WANTS to Rear its ugly head EVERYWHERE literally. Save your energy for the debate.
to jealousy wrote on Sep 14, 2008 7:19 PM:Your are right some one is jealous. But who though???you girls don't have a chance
Debates wrote on Sep 14, 2008 8:06 PM:What debates? We have forums in our town not debates, it shows how much you know...
voters wrote on Sep 15, 2008 2:27 PM:those of us who are adults, registered voters, ask that all of you former, or current high school students get back to your homework, and stop playing around. this is an adult issue. when you are old enough to vote and can make an educated decision, get back to us.
sorry wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:33 PM:Mrs. Melendez...You keep referring your comments to high school students and others. I'm sorry but you don't make any sense. We have seen yours and Mrs. Bhutta's pics. on signs. We need some serious candidates, we don't need pretty girls. You need to do your homework instead. Just for your information we are concerned voters. Please stop making comments about yourself.
detention wrote on Sep 15, 2008 5:56 PM:We are the voters..but please don't give us detetion Mrs. Bhutta and Mrs. Melendez. You need to do your homework too. Mr. Manos and Jimmy will win!
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