Melanie Stake (Dakota Town Clerk (Waushara County), Wisconsin, candidate 2025)

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Melanie Stake

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Dakota Town Clerk (Waushara County)

Elections and appointments

Last election

April 1, 2025

Education

Bachelor's

Carroll College, 1998

Contact

Personal LinkedIn

Melanie Stake ran for election to the Dakota Town Clerk (Waushara County) in Wisconsin. Stake was on the ballot in the general election on April 1, 2025.

Stake completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Melanie Stake provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on March 23, 2025:

• Bachelor's: Carroll College (now Carroll University), 1998
• Prior offices held:
  • Waushara County Clerk (2011-2017)
• Incumbent officeholder: Yes

Elections

General election

General election for Dakota Town Clerk (Waushara County)

Melanie Stake ran in the general election for Dakota Town Clerk (Waushara County) on April 1, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Melanie Stake (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Stake in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Melanie Stake completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Stake's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have lived in the town of Dakota for almost 25 years and raised two children here with my husband, Matt. I have spent the majority of my career in public service, including 14 years in the Waushara County Clerk's Office (seven years as the county clerk), and nearly six years in my current position as clerk in the town of Dakota.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am well versed in my job, having been a clerk in one capacity or another for nearly 20 years. That said, I recognize that I don't know everything about everything, and I am dedicated to constant learning and improvement.
• Unlike most politicians, clerks have a mainly administrative role. We don't get to create policy; we don't get a vote at board meetings. So clerks must be hard workers who don't care too much about power or recognition. I am very much that person. I realize that my impact comes from doing the administrative work that keeps the town running smoothly--and I'm okay with that.
• I am dedicated to conducting elections with the utmost integrity and honesty. Though everyone--including me--has his/her own personal political convictions, the way I do my job has not and will not change. I will continue to carry out these duties in a nonpartisan and ethical way.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Election administration has always been my favorite part of the job--both when I was Waushara County clerk, and now as town of Dakota clerk. The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and I am deeply committed to enabling every qualified person to exercise that right. I am also committed to accurate and honest results, educating people, and combating disinformation about the election process.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I've never been much of a "fangirl" of anyone in particular. But I've always had a great affinity for characters--real and fictional--who are honorable, just, and unafraid to stand up for what is right, despite the consequences.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Knowledge, work ethic, honesty, humility, customer service.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Election administration, accounts payable, budgetary functions, accurate and accessible town board records

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

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