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Heath Mello (born August 2, 1979) is an American politician who is a former member of the unicameral Nebraska Legislature. Mello ran for mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, but was defeated by incumbent Jean Stothert in the 2017 mayoral election, receiving 46.56% of the vote.
Heath Mello | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 5th district | |
| In office January 7, 2009 – January 4, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Don Preister |
| Succeeded by | Mike McDonnell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Heath Michael Mello August 2, 1979 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Catherine Mello |
| Children | 2 |
On July 11, 2023, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce announced Heath Mello as the organization's new CEO after its CEO resigned.[1]
He was born in Nebraska, graduated from Gretna High School and resides in Omaha, Nebraska. Mello received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2002.[2] He currently works as a Community Affairs and Development Specialist at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE.[3] He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
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. He was opposed by NARAL Pro-Choice America[7] due to earlier introduction of anti-abortion legislation, and support of legislation introduced by others. Pro-choice advocates also assailed Senator Bernie Sanders and Democratic Party Chairman Tom Perez[8] for their support of Mello.[9][10] Huffington Post reported Mello was a sponsor of the final version of a 20-week abortion ban approved by the governor in 2010, and cast anti-abortion votes in favor of requiring physicians to be physically present for an abortion in order to impede access to telemedicine abortion care, supported a law banning insurance plans in the state from covering abortions. He was endorsed in 2010 by anti-abortion group Nebraska Right to Life.[11]
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 [12] and on the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee[13] in the Nebraska Legislature, as well as the Legislature's State Planning Committee,[14] 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[15] and Energy[16] Committees within the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments, as well as, the Budgets & Revenue[17] and Labor & Economic Development Committees[18] within the National Conference of State Legislators. Mello is also a member of CLEAN (Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now),[19] the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators[20] and the Specialty Equipment Market Association State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.[21]
On July 11, 2023, Greater Omaha Chamber announce Heath Mello as organization's new CEO after in past CEO resign.[22]
As of March 10, 2010 Mello served on the Board of Directors for One World Health Center,[23] Bellevue Community Police Foundation,[24] South Omaha Business Association,[25] the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance[26] 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.[27]
Mello was appointed as chief lobbyist for the University of Nebraska system in December 2017.[28]
Mello is Roman Catholic.[29]
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