Republican candidate Melanie Burkholder will challenge Liberal Democrat Tasha Boerner Horvath for California’s 76th Assembly District
(Carlsbad, CA) – Dr. Melanie Burkholder announced on KUSI last week that she is launching her campaign for California’s 76th Assembly District. A Republican, Melanie is a decorated Secret Service agent, mental health counselor, and proud wife and mother.
Melanie served for almost six years as a Secret Service Agent where she completed protection assignments for the President, Vice-President, and many foreign dignitaries. She also investigated cases of identity theft, fraud, money laundering, bank fraud and counterfeit in the Los Angeles Field Office. A Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Melanie now owns and operates a successful counseling practice in Carlsbad.
Melanie first got involved in local government as a leader in the fight to ban the use of the toxic pesticides on school fields in Carlsbad. She currently serves on the PTA at Magnolia Elementary.
“I am running for Assembly to reduce the crippling government overreach Californians experience and instead instill the accountability and transparency that we deserve from our elected leaders,” said Melanie Burkholder. “I believe that California needs to adequately provide the core functions of government before we start spending hard-earned taxpayer dollars on unneeded and unwanted projects such as the failed high-speed rail and pay raises for career politicians.
“My back to the basics approach will focus on limiting government overreach, improving our schools, reducing road congestion, and ending the pay-to-play politics that is corrupting our leadership in Sacramento,” she concluded.
The 76th District is currently occupied by liberal Democrat Tasha Boerner Horvath, who won an election in 2018. Boerner Horvath is the first Democrat to win this seat since redistricting in 2012. The 76th District was previously represented by Republican Rocky Chávez until Chávez chose to run for Congress in 2018. The District’s voter registration is nearly evenly split between Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.
Melanie is a proven leader and a distinguished member of the Carlsbad community. A Republican, Melanie will take the same fight to Sacramento special interests and ultra-liberal politicians that she took to our nation’s criminals while serving in the Secret Service. To learn more about Melanie and her campaign for Assembly, visit: www.MelanieForAssembly.com
Meet Melanie Burkholder
Dr. Melanie Burkholder, a candidate for California’s 76th Assembly District, is a decorated Secret Service agent, mental health counselor, and proud wife and mother. She is a proven leader and a distinguished member of the Carlsbad community. A Republican, Melanie will take the same fight to Sacramento special interests and ultra-liberal politicians that she took to our nation’s criminals while serving in the Secret Service.
Passionate about helping people in need, Melanie was drawn to a career in mental health counseling. She earned her Masters in Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research at the University of Memphis. Melanie then gained her accreditation to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and earned a PhD in Clinical Christian Counseling.
After working several years as a counselor, Melanie was recruited to the United States Secret Service where she served as a Special Agent. Her duties included protection assignments for the President, Vice-President, and many foreign dignitaries. She investigated cases of identity theft, fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and counterfeiting, leading to numerous convictions and a number of decorations.
Melanie chose to leave her life of public service after almost six years as a Special Agent to raise her two children. She now owns and operates a successful counseling practice in Carlsbad.
A champion for public safety, Melanie believes that parents have both the right and the duty to get involved when their children’s wellbeing is at risk. Melanie first got involved in local government as a leader in the fight to ban the use of the toxic pesticides on school fields. Not only did she win this fight, but she also won without costing her community any additional tax dollars.
Melanie is active in our community, a dedicated volunteer at her church, a member of the Carlsbad Republican Women Federated, Cheerleading Coordinator at Friday Night Lights, the PTA at Magnolia Elementary, and the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary. She was previously Webelos Leader with Cub Pack 740 in Carlsbad.
In the Assembly, Melanie will be committed to putting our interests and needs first: fixing our roads to end the gridlock, making sure our coasts and green spaces are protected, making sure our classrooms have the resources they need and standing up to out-of-touch Sacramento politicians that encourage illegal immigration and spend billions on their pet projects rather than our needs.
