Candidate for
Council Member; City of Oakland; District 4

Melanie Shelby brings new leadership and a fresh perspective to Oakland's City Council. As a small businesswoman and former executive, Melanie has experience balancing multi-million dollar budgets and managing large organizations effectively. She is not beholden to City Hall political interests and with Oakland's growing budget deficit, will make the tough decisions necessary to protect neighborhood services from cuts. Melanie has the strong track record of successful fiscal management we need in today's economy. She currently owns her own business and understands what it means to manage a bottom line.

Previously as an executive, she managed a $600 million budget, allocating dollars to small businesses throughout California including Alameda County with a focus on communities of color, service disabled veterans and women. She also directed a $10 million charitable giving program to nonprofits focused on K-12 education, economic development/job training, affordable housing, and emergency energy assistance. As a former Oakland Housing Authority Commissioner, Melanie ensured the agency's $230 million budget was focused on housing and services for 14,000 of Oakland's most vulnerable families. Melanie has been able to leverage public-private partnerships to help those in need.

Melanie played a leading role in increasing federal funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by $1 billion, directing $175 million in federal dollars to California and helping thousands of Californians keep their homes warm. She also managed a $105 million tax credit investment portfolio responsible for building 3,000 units of affordable housing throughout Northern and Central California.

A long-time Oakland advocate, Melanie has served on the Oakland Housing Authority and Health and Human Services Commission, Board of Directors of the Oakland Museum of Children's Art (MOCHA), Education Advisory Board for United Way of the Bay Area, and is a graduate of the 2000 "Leadership Oakland" class. Melanie received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.