Heath Mello

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. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce named Mello their CEO in 2023.

Biography 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.District 05 Blog, accessed March 10, 2010. He currently works as a Community Affairs and Development Specialist at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, NE.District 05 Blog, accessed March 10, 2010. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.District 05 Blog, accessed March 10, 2010.

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.District 05 Blog, accessed July 9, 2010.

State legislature 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 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 for their support of Mello. The Huffington Post reported that Mello sponsored the final version of a 20-week abortion ban approved by the governor in 2010. He also cast anti-abortion votes, including supporting a requirement for physicians to be physically present during an abortion, which limited access to telemedicine abortion care. Additionally, he 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.

Legislative committees and organizations 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 Appropriations Committee, accessed March 10, 2010. and on the Nebraska Retirement Systems CommitteeNebraska Retirement Systems, accessed March 10, 2010. in the Nebraska Legislature, as well as the Legislature's State Planning Committee,Select Committees, accessed March 10, 2010. Homeland Security Policy Group and the Healthcare Reform Task Force. Mello was appointed as chief lobbyist for the University of Nebraska system in December 2017.

Mello is an active member in national state legislative organizations; serving on the Economic DevelopmentMidwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments , accessed March 10, 2010. and EnergyMidwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments , accessed March 10, 2010. Committees within the Midwestern Legislative Conference of the Council of State Governments, as well as, the Budgets & RevenueNational Conference of State Legislators, accessed March 10, 2010. and Labor & Economic Development CommitteesNational Conference of State Legislators, accessed March 10, 2010. within the National Conference of State Legislators. Mello is also a member of CLEAN (Coalition of Legislators for Energy Action Now),Energy Action Coalition, accessed on March 10, 2010. the National Caucus of Environmental LegislatorsNational Caucus of Environmental Legislators, accessed March 10, 2010. and the Specialty Equipment Market Association State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus.Specialty Equipment Market Association State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus , accessed March 10, 2010.

On July 11, 2023, Greater Omaha Chamber announce Heath Mello as organization's new CEO after in past CEO resign.

Personal life

Community organizations As of March 10, 2010 Mello served on the Board of Directors for One World Health Center,One World Health Center, accessed March 10, 2010. Bellevue Community Police Foundation,Bellevue Community Police Foundation, accessed March 10, 2010. South Omaha Business Association,South Omaha Business Association accessed March 10, 2010. the South Omaha Neighborhood AllianceSouth Omaha Neighborhood Alliance, accessed March 10, 2010. 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.District 05 Blog, accessed March 10, 2010.

Religion Mello, a Catholic, is a member of St. Thomas More Parish in Omaha, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mello and his wife, Catherine, were married on May 22, 2010.District 05 Blog, accessed July 8, 2010.

Heath Mello

Bron en licentie