Heath Mello

Updated on Dec 05, 2023

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Preceded by Don Preister Role Politician Name Heath Mello		Residence Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. Political party Democratic Party Democratic Party


Born August 2, 1979 (age 44) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. ( 1979-08-02 ) Education University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Capitol Conversations with Sen. Heath Mello - an NET News Feature

Heath Mello (born August 2, 1979) is an American politician who is a former member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Nebraska State Legislature. He was born in Nebraska, graduated from Gretna High School and resides in Omaha, Nebraska. Mello ran to become the 52nd Mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, but was defeated by incumbent Jean Stothert in the 2017 mayoral election, receiving 46.56% of the vote.

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Background

Heath Mello Brad Ashford endorses Heath Mello in Omaha mayoral race Politics

Mello received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2002. He currently works as a Community Affairs and Development Specialist at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Heath Mello State Sen Heath Mello will challenge Stothert for mayor Omaha

Prior to his election to the Nebraska Legislature, Mello worked as a senior aide to U.S. Senator Ben Nelson and as an Assistant Coordinator to the Nebraska Community Improvement Program.

Heath Mello Heath Mello officially launches campaign for Omaha mayor outlines

Mello, a Roman Catholic, is a member of St. Thomas More Parish in Omaha, NE and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mello and his wife, Catherine, were married on May 22, 2010.

State legislature

Mello was a Nebraska state senator who was elected to represent the 5th Legislative District in the Nebraska Legislature on November 4, 2008. Legislative District 5 consists of the South Omaha and North Bellevue portions of the Omaha Metropolitan area. Mello was re-elected November 6, 2012. Mello, who received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood Voters of Nebraska in 2015, was criticized by that group and by Democratic National Congress president Tom Perez for earlier votes in his first term as a Nebraska state senator.

Legislative committees and organizations

Mello was elected to the Legislature in 2008 and reelected in 2012. In his final term in the legislature, Mello served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee and on the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee in the Nebraska Legislature, as well as the Legislature’s State Planning Committee, Homeland Security Policy Group and the Healthcare Reform Task Force.

Mello is an active member in national state legislative organizations; serving on the Economic Development and Energy Committees within the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments, as well as, the Budgets & Revenue and Labor & Economic Development Committees within the National Conference of State Legislators. Mello is also a member of CLEAN (Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now), the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators and the Specialty Equipment Market Association State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.

Community organizations

As of March 10, 2010 Mello served on the Board of Directors for One World Health Center, Bellevue Community Police Foundation, South Omaha Business Association, the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance and the Q Street Merchants Association. He also served as a member of South Omaha Optimists, South Omaha Development Project, South Omaha Environmental Task Force, South Omaha Weed & Seed, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce, and Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Bills introduced/passed

101st Legislature, 1st Session …

LB 277 – Prohibit the purchase of spray paint and industrial- strength marking pens by minors

LB 278 – Passed in 2009, this bill permits municipalities to allow pedestrians to solicit in roadways.

LB 281 – Change education service unit board membership provisions

LB 282 – Adopt the Nebraska Advantage Film Production Incentive Act

LB 368 – Change point system violation regarding reckless driving and willful reckless driving

LB 608 – Appropriate funds to the Supreme Court for a salary increase for county court employees

LB 609 – Provide for child-care contracts as prescribed and provide duties for the Department of Health and Human Services

LB 610 – Change Medicaid limitation provisions relating to services for persons with disabilities

LB 632 – Adopt the Nebraska Green Building Advantage Act and authorize a sales tax refund

LB 633 – Create the Neighborhood Development Act

LB 634 – Redefine household income for homestead exemption purposes

LB 635 – Change reporting requirements for political party committees under the Nebraska Political Accountability and Disclosure Act

LB 636 – Appropriate funds to the Department of Economic Development

LB 637 – Require disclosure of information by certain group health carriers

LB 644 – Adopt the Electronics Recycling Acts

LB 645 – Change provisions relating to public contracts for services

101st Legislature, 2nd Session

LB 763 –Adopt the Successor Asbestos-Related Liability Act.

LB 977 – Require new state buildings and renovations to comply with energy efficiency standards.

LB 978 – Provide requirements relating to energy star certified appliances in the state’s competitive bidding process.

LB 997 – Require cities’ comprehensive plans to include an energy element

LB 1073 – Adopt the Building Nebraska's Creative Economy Act and provide income tax credits

LB 1074 – Provide for job training grants to film production companies

LB 1098 – Authorize the creation of sustainable energy financing districts by municipalities, enabling municipalities to establish Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)programs.

LB 1099 – Authorize the establishment of an expanded, voluntary recycling program in cities of the metropolitan class

LB 1100 – Allow operation of low-speed vehicles on highways as prescribed

Source: Nebraska Legislature

Personal life

Mello is Roman Catholic.

References

Heath Mello Wikipedia

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