Dr. Melanie Burkholder, candidate for District 1 in the City of Carlsbad, 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. Melanie will bring the same fight and passion to serving the residents of Carlsbad, a place she calls home, 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.  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 toxic pesticides on school fields. Not only did she win this fight, she won without costing her community any additional tax dollars. She has also advocated for parents and children – suing the schools to re-open (and winning!) and pushing for School Reform with the Parent Association of Carlsbad.

Melanie is active in our community, a dedicated volunteer at her church, Cheerleading Coordinator at Friday Night Lights, the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary, and was previously Webelos Leader with Cub Pack 740 in Carlsbad.

As a member of the City Council, Melanie will be committed to putting our interests and needs first: stopping an increase in unnecessary taxes, implementing proven programs that actually help combat the homelessness crisis, advocating for parents and children, ensuring public safety, and supporting our local small businesses.