Winning council candidate avoided taking a stand on downtown housing Measure P

BY NORAH SHEPPARD-HUTCHINS
Daily Post Staff Writer

Laura Melahn credits her decision not to take a stand on Measure P and campaign strategies such as sign waving in her success against her opponent for a seat on Menlo Park City Council.

Melahn defeated two-time Grammy-nominated singer Charlotte Reed for a spot on Menlo Park City Council, 1,199 (61.5%) to 749 (38.5%).

Melahn, 41, said a part of her win could be attributed to her decision to remain neutral on Measure P, a ballot measure that would require council to go to voters before developing government-subsidized apartments on downtown parking lots.

While every other candidate has said they were voting against the measure, Melahn never said if she’d vote “yes” or “no”

“People in Menlo Park are tired of being told to pick a team,” Melahn said in an email to the Post.

However, Reed, 33, criticized Melahn’s approach of “staying neutral” at a League of Women Voter’s debate on Oct. 20.

“When you’re running for office like we all are to represent our neighbors, in order to represent their will and wishes effectively from the dais, it is their right to know where you stand on the most important issues facing our city,” Reed said.

Melahn’s campaign has centered around a housing plan that explores ways to deepen the affordability in homes at the already-approved development at the former SRI campus, called Parkline. Melahn believes this option would be cheaper and faster compared to developing housing on the downtown parking lots.

“Throughout my campaign and as an engaged community member I’ve brought solutions for the challenges facing Menlo Park. I believe voters saw that and chose it,” Melahn said.

Melahn and Reed are running to replace Betsy Nash for the District 4 seat on council, which covers downtown and central Menlo Park, as well as the Allied Arts Guild area.

Melahn also said she believes a part of her win is because of sign waving, which she said is a local tradition where she grew up, in Hawaii.

“A group of neighbors and I stood in three spots leading up to the election with leis and signs waving at every car,” Melahn said in an email to the Post.