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MELINDA BALES
For NC House
BALES TO RUN FOR STATE HOUSE IN 2024
wants to work for north Mecklenburg schools, roads and jobs.
Huntersville, North Carolina, April 21, 2023—Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales announced today that she will seek election to the North Carolina House of Representatives next year to serve as the voice of north Mecklenburg residents in Raleigh.
Bales would replace current north Mecklenburg state Rep. John Bradford (R-98), who recently announced his intention to run for North Carolina state treasurer.
Bales, who had planned to run for reelection as Mayor of Huntersville this year, concluded after Bradford’s announcement that she is uniquely qualified to fill the seat representing north Mecklenburg in the state House.
Through 12 years of combined experience on the Huntersville Board of Commissioners and as Huntersville Mayor, Bales has established strong relationships with state lawmakers and administrators and developed a deep understanding of how policy and budget decisions are made at the state level.
“Serving Huntersville, first as a town commissioner and now as mayor, has been the honor of my life,” said Bales. “I feel like it has absolutely prepared me to tackle the issues of education, transportation and economic development in our community, and so much of that is decided in Raleigh.”
Bales has lived in Huntersville for 24 years with her husband and two sons, who are both graduates of Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. When she was elected town commissioner in 2011, Huntersville had 45,000 residents. Since then, Bales has served as a steady voice for responsible growth and development as the town managed a population increase of more than 44 percent.
Since being elected Huntersville mayor in 2021, Bales has led the way on several important initiatives, including:
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Consulting with state transportation officials on long-awaited Gilead Road intersection improvements,
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Collaborating with CATS to launch a microtransit pilot program for North Mecklenburg,
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Collaborating with Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools to include several major north Mecklenburg school renovation and construction projects in its proposed 2023 bond package.
In addition to her work as mayor, Bales currently serves on the North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors, Metropolitan Transit Committee, the Centralina Economic Development District Board of Directors, the Centralina Connect Beyond Committee, the Lake Norman Economic Development Board of Directors and as co -chair of the Lake Norman Education Collaborative.
With deep ties to the community and a strong understanding of the state political landscape, Bales would be an exceptionally effective legislator for north Mecklenburg constituents.
“We are all too aware of how essential it is for north Mecklenburg to have strong, savvy representation in Raleigh,” said Bales. “I absolutely will be that.”