Melissa Rinehart

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Melissa Rinehart

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 7, 2023

Education

Bachelor's

Indiana University Fort Wayne, 1992

Graduate

University of Texas at San Antonio, 1996

Ph.D

Michigan State University, 2006

Personal

Birthplace

Fort Wayne, Ind.

Profession

Educator

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Melissa Rinehart (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Fort Wayne City Council to represent District 2 in Indiana. She lost in the general election on November 7, 2023.

Rinehart completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Melissa Rinehart was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Rinehart's professional experience includes working as an educator, executive director, consultant, writer, and corporate trainer. Rinehart earned a bachelor's degree from Indiana University, Fort Wayne in 1992, a graduate degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1996, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2006.

Rinehart has been affiliated with Neighborhood Health, Fort Wayne Sister Cities International, AVOW, and HWF.

Elections

2023

See also: City elections in Fort Wayne, Indiana (2023)

General election

General election for Fort Wayne City Council District 2

Incumbent Russ Jehl defeated Melissa Rinehart in the general election for Fort Wayne City Council District 2 on November 7, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Russ Jehl (R)	53.5	4,556
		Melissa Rinehart (D)	46.5	3,962

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,518
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Fort Wayne City Council District 2

Melissa Rinehart advanced from the Democratic primary for Fort Wayne City Council District 2 on May 2, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Melissa Rinehart	100.0	1,223

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,223
= 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.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Fort Wayne City Council District 2

Incumbent Russ Jehl advanced from the Republican primary for Fort Wayne City Council District 2 on May 2, 2023.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Russ Jehl	100.0	1,893

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,893
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Richard Lyons (R)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Rinehart in this election.

2022

See also: Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Indiana House of Representatives District 82

Kyle Miller defeated Davyd Jones in the general election for Indiana House of Representatives District 82 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kyle Miller (D)	56.4	7,270
	Submit photo	Davyd Jones (R)	43.6	5,625

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 12,895
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 82

Kyle Miller defeated Melissa Rinehart and Kathy Zoucha in the Democratic primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 82 on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kyle Miller	49.0	990
		Melissa Rinehart	36.3	733
		Kathy Zoucha	14.7	296

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,019
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 82

Davyd Jones advanced from the Republican primary for Indiana House of Representatives District 82 on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Davyd Jones	100.0	1,870

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,870
= 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.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2023

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Melissa Rinehart completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Rinehart's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A proud Fort Wayne native, Melissa Rinehart hails from a long line of hardworking German and Belgian immigrant families. A family ethos of serving and championing others was instilled in Melissa at a young age. Having lived in both ends of the district, from the Dupont area up north to the North Anthony corridor in the city's historic core, Melissa is uniquely qualified to represent the diverse needs of District 2 residents.

After graduating from Snider High School, Melissa went on to earn her undergraduate degree in political science from Indiana University, Fort Wayne. She continued on to earn a master's from the University of Texas San Antonio and a doctorate in cultural anthropology from Michigan State University.

Melissa currently serves as the Education Director at Neighborhood Health Clinic, a federally qualified health center providing holistic healthcare to disadvantaged populations. She also serves on the Legacy Joint Funding Committee and the Fort Wayne Sister Cities International Board of Directors. She is a proud graduate of Hoosier Women Forward and a member of AVOW (Advancing Voices of Women).

Melissa Rinehart is confident she has the skillset, experience, and passion required to represent District 2 residents on Fort Wayne City Council and help keep our community moving forward.

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?

• Enhancing Quality of Life
• Improving Public Safety
• Investing in Everyday Infrastructure

Community Question Featured local question

Do you believe crime rates are changing? Where do you get your crime rate data from? Would you make any changes to existing public safety policy?

Violent crime rates in the City of Fort Wayne are decreasing according to the Fort Wayne Police Department. However, non-violent crimes and opioid use are on the incline, including larceny, which is twice as high as the rest of the city in the northern parts of my district. Public engagement in public safety is essential to our community's success, which starts with community policing and outreach.

Community Question Featured local question

Do you think the downtown area is healthy? What is your definition of a healthy downtown? What changes, if any, would you like to make?

The downtown area has made a complete 180 in its vitality during the course of my lifespan, however in light of new development there really has to be a look at living downtown and incorporating affordable housing initiatives. Also important is the further development of resources within the downtown community like a comprehensive grocery solution, pharmacy, and even nightlife as we look towards developing downtown itself with the 15-minute neighborhood concept.

Community Question Featured local question

How important is it to involve residents in the government’s decision-making process? What plans do you have regarding resident involvement in this process?

My entire campaign platform rests on neighborhoods and the inclusion of neighborhood representation at the city council table. It is incredibly important to both engage and involve constituents in decisions that impact their day-to-day, as well as their tax bills.

Community Question Featured local question

How should record requests from the public be handled? Do you have any policies around transparency and accountability you want to enact?

Records requests should be smooth and seamless for the general public. From a user standpoint, access to information should be more readily accessible between city and county resources so that residents can more easily find information that pertains to them in one place.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you address crime and public safety? Do you have a different stance than current city council policy?

City public safety relies on resource allocation, especially as a city that keeps growing. Departments including Fort Wayne Police, Fort Wayne Fire, and Animal Care & Control are the backbone of keeping our city a safe place for all. Ensuring that these departments have all they need to operate in the best interest of the residents is vital to our continued success as the community grows.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's current approach to public safety? Would you take any different positions?

The Fort Wayne Police Department does an incredible job, however it is certain that they would be improved by the implementation of further community policing efforts, wherein officers engage in their community and neighborhood associations to build relationships and confidence among the public.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

The City of Fort Wayne has taken steps towards minimizing its overall environmental impact in the development of the Sustaining Fort Wayne plan. Sustaining Fort Wayne is the road map for the City of Fort Wayne government to reduce its overall environmental impact. The plan includes net zero energy consumption for city buildings (including water and wastewater treatment facilities), city vehicle fleet, Citilink public transit fleet, and to complete LED conversion for streetlights and traffic signals. I would fully support policy and financial measures to advance the Sustaining Fort Wayne plan.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding infrastructure?

Infrastructure policies need to be further developed to ensure that a balanced allocation of resources across the community is observed while focusing in to improve areas near areas of public interest and school neighborhoods.

Community Question Featured local question

What plans do you have regarding the police department? Would you make any changes from current policy?

As a council member I would encourage recruitment policies and practices that look to more fully represent the demographic makeup of the community at large. Special initiatives like boat rescue, bike cops, and the bomb squad have been helpful to ensure public safety, however, a lot of good cops were taken off of their neighborhood assignments and need to be supplemented with engaged officers who are ready to do the work.

Community Question Featured local question

What policies would you have implemented in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why did you select those policies?

For issues like COVID-19, it is essential to listen to the experts. In the case of COVID-19, it was essential to follow the Indiana State Department of Health and CDC guidelines for organizational policies. As an essential worker leading a food bank during the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw firsthand how important it was to follow expert guidance for the safety and well-being of my employees.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Enhancing Quality of Life

- Zoning and land-use policies that encourage 15-minute neighborhoods;
- Addressing food insecurity and accessible housing options;
- Ensuring all decisions enhance the quality of life and place for all residents in Fort Wayne.

Improving Public Safety
- Advocate for the expansion of community policing and other innovative law enforcement strategies;
- Promote safe routes to schools, to increase safety for students who bike or walk to school;
- Develop traffic calming projects where they are most needed.

Investing in Everyday Infrastructure
- Prioritize spending on sidewalks, alleyways, and street lighting within residential areas;
- Push for city investment in the further development and preservation of the city's tree canopy;

- Advocate for additional maintenance and improvements in neighborhood parks.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Local officeholders have the greatest impact on the day-to-day of Fort Wayne's residents and overall quality of life and place. It is essential that our local leaders are fiscally responsible, especially with the larger taxing implications that come out of the budgeting process.

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

I really look up to Margaret Mead who made anthropology applicable and accessible to the general public despite the resistance that she encountered among her academic colleagues.

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

As an elected leader it is imperative that you are both responsive and consistently follow through on constituent requests and needs.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'll provide a listening ear for the constituents of District-2 and will make informed decisions both through their input and by researching each issue coming to the council table.

What legacy would you like to leave?

It is essential to me that my work improves the lives of others.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The US Bicentennial in 1976, my family made the front page of the Bryan, Ohio newspaper with my brother and I wearing red, white & blue outfits made by our mother to celebrate the occasion.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Grocery Store Clerk at Lynn's, formerly located at Stellhorn and Maplecrest, for three years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Power of Kiowa Song: A Collaborative Ethnography by Luke Eric Lassiter. When I was teaching this book was essential to shaping the field of cultural anthropology, encouraging the researcher to not engage as an outsider looking in, but to immerse themselves into the culture of study. My students always had the most lively and engaged conversations surrounding this book.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Wonder Woman, who I admire as someone who leads with compassion and intellect to effect change.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

U2 - Where The Streets Have No Name

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

As a single, working mom I understand the unique challenges that residents in Fort Wayne may face. Despite my having a graduate education my daughter and I were not precluded from economic adversity and hope that my own adversity will help me understand the fundamental struggles that residents in this community face.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Council committee appointments help drive policy decisions beyond the fiscal scope of the City Council as a whole. Our City Council appointments represent their constituents on important boards and committees that have a direct community impact.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

In a representative system of government, it is important to bring a wide variety of opinions to the table, I believe my leadership in non-profits has prepared me well for council, without necessarily having served in public office before.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Financial literacy and a listening ear to their constituents are vital for Fort Wayne City Council members, which includes making sure residents have an open door to representatives. It is also essential for Council members to understand broader social and economic issues that affect voter engagement and lived experience.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Allen County Democratic Party, Three Rivers Active Streets, My Labor Radio, Dana Black.

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.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

2022

Melissa Rinehart did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

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