Melanie Sachs
2022 - Present
2024
1
Melanie Sachs (Democratic Party) is a member of the Maine House of Representatives, representing District 102. She assumed office on December 7, 2022. Her current term ends on December 4, 2024.
Sachs (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Maine House of Representatives to represent District 102. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024. She advanced from the Democratic primary on June 11, 2024.
Biography
Melanie Sachs was born in Morristown, New Jersey, and lives in Freeport, Maine. Sachs graduated from Mt. Blue High School. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Bates College in 1991 and a master's degree in science and social administration from Case Western Reserve University in 1994.[1][2]
Sachs' career experience includes working as the executive director of Freeport Community Services. She has been affiliated with the National Association of Perinatal Social Workers, the Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center, the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, Odyssey of the Mind, Arts and Cultural Alliance of Freeport, Freeport Rotary, and Freeport Community Players.[1][2]
Committee assignments
2023-2024
Sachs was assigned to the following committees:
2021-2022
Sachs was assigned to the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Maine House of Representatives District 102
Incumbent Melanie Sachs and James Finegan Jr. are running in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 102 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Melanie Sachs (D) | ||
 | James Finegan Jr. (R) | |
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Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 102
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Melanie Sachs in round 1 .
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 102
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: James Finegan Jr. in round 1 .
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2022
See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Maine House of Representatives District 102
Incumbent Melanie Sachs defeated James Finegan Jr. in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 102 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Melanie Sachs (D) | 71.1 | 3,693 | |
| James Finegan Jr. (R) | 28.9 | 1,503 | |
| Total votes: 5,196 | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 102
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Melanie Sachs in round 1 .
| Total votes: 698 |
||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 102
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: James Finegan Jr. in round 1 .
| Total votes: 318 |
||||
2020
See also: Maine House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Maine House of Representatives District 48
Melanie Sachs defeated James Finegan Jr. in the general election for Maine House of Representatives District 48 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Melanie Sachs (D) | 66.4 | 4,246 | |
| James Finegan Jr. (R) | 33.6 | 2,151 | |
| Total votes: 6,397 | ||||
| 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 Maine House of Representatives District 48
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Melanie Sachs in round 1 .
| Total votes: 2,314 |
||||
Republican primary election
Republican Primary for Maine House of Representatives District 48
The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: James Finegan Jr. in round 1 .
| Total votes: 449 |
||||
Endorsements
To view Sachs' endorsements in the 2020 election, please [www.melaniesachsforme.com click here].
2012
Sachs ran in the 2012 election for Maine House of Representatives District 106. Sachs lost against Patrick Norton and Sara Gideon in the Democratic primary on June 12, 2012. Benjamin Martin ran unopposed in the Republican primary. The general election took place on November 6, 2012.[3][4]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
 Sara Gideon |
50.9% | 534 |
| Melanie Sachs | 44.8% | 470 |
| Patrick Norton | 4.4% | 46 |
| Total Votes | 1,050 | |
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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You can ask Melanie Sachs to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing melaniesachsforme@gmail.com.
2022
Melanie Sachs did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Melanie Sachs completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sachs' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am a strong, effective, compassionate leader, who has served six years on the Freeport Town Council, and was elected to leadership as Chair (twice) and Vice-Chair during my tenure. I bring more than two decades of experience as a skilled executive in the private and nonprofit business sectors, and as an active volunteer in local schools, youth and arts organizations.
I grew up New Sharon in Maine, graduating from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington. I completed my B.A. in Political Science, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude from Bates College - the first in my family to graduate. I interned for Senator George Mitchell in 1991. I received my Master's in Science and Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio, and have been a licensed clinical social worker for more than 25 years with a focus on health and mental health care. As Executive Director, I led Freeport Community Services for many years, providing direct services to Freeport and Pownal residents. I also served as Executive Director of Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine, working with those affected by violence across York and Cumberland Counties. In 2019, I chaired the Freeport Working Group to Welcome New Mainers.
I was honored by the Greater Freeport Chamber of Commerce in 2016 with the Ed Bonney Community Contribution Award, and was recognized as one of Maine's 20 Outstanding Women in 2017.
- Healthcare is a Right: I have worked for over two decades in the healthcare field, providing homecare and hospice services in five rural Maine counties, working in hospital intensive care units and community clinics, building stronger programs for victims of violence, and advancing member-focused improvements in mental health services. I know that access to affordable, quality healthcare impacts people's financial, emotional, and physical well-being. I will bring my comprehensive experience of direct engagement with patients, systems, and healthcare policy to the Legislature.
- Urgent Action on Climate Change: The Town Council with my leadership produced extensive meaningful environmental progress. We expanded access and conservation of our public lands, worked on clean water initiatives, established Active Living Committee, expanded solar for residents and municipal buildings, converted our town lights to LED, brought in the bus, and brought the plastic bag ban to a successful passage by town referendum. I want to bring the same level of success to the State government initiatives.
- Education for All: I have worked in leadership with the school board on funding formulas, in classrooms with children, and mentored and coached students of all ages. We must fund K-12 at 55% to take pressure off of local districts and build strong programs statewide. Additionally every major initiative coming out of Augusta (i.e. Governor Mills' 10 year Economic Strategic Plan, Maine Climate Council initiatives, etc.) all emphasize the need for workforce training and education, which will mean significant investment in additional programs, in part through public/private partnerships. Finally student debt (in ME is $21,000+ on average) must be addressed to make higher ed accessible to all.
Healthcare, climate change, and education are clearly my professional passions. I also believe our funding reflects our priorities. While certainly not the most compelling area for most people, I appreciate and have strong experience in the government budgeting process, as priorities and policies hinge on funding. I stewarded a $26.2 million budget process annually in Freeport as Chair of the Town Council. We kept the tax rate flat or even decreased in some years during my leadership, while expanding key services, by focusing on priorities and exhaustively understanding the funding mechanisms.
I also served on the Cumberland County Budget Committee as municipal regional representative and have worked closely with the school administration on cost share and funding formulas. I was also on the Council when the Legislature and Gov. LePage could not agree on a revenue sharing formula in the 2012-2014 budget, so we had to create a budget under incredibly uncertain times. I have also worked on statewide mental health reform, for example, where we saved money by improving systems and outcomes.
Social justice issues are my personal passion: I have worked with two of the independent women's health centers in the country, fighting for reproductive justice; chaired the Working group to Welcome New Mainers in 2019; a founder of MaineCanDo.org which provides free resources to businesses & nonprofits to address sexual harassment; and work to create safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.
I have been incredibly fortunate to have the friendship and example of strong women leaders in my community. Nancy Randall Clark here in Freeport was one of those amazing women. She served in the Maine House of Representatives for 5 years, and in the Maine Senate for 14 years. She was the first woman to serve as Senate Majority Leader. I loved and admired her for her deep connections to our community (she was also a school teacher who was beloved as the firm but fair Mrs. Clark) and for the consistent contributions she made to the lives of those she connected with.
Nancy was smart, funny, direct, and compassionate. She also remained committed to service even after she had completed her time in elected office, being active in an incredible amount of community groups and causes. I was at her side in many of these organizations, and learned so much from her energy, ethics and problem solving skills. She liked to tackle problems and get things done, which I have emulated in my own public and nonprofit service. It was not about getting credit for Nancy- it was truly about making the world a better place in any way you possibly could. I have never met anyone quite like her. My own path in public service has been to continue that legacy - what will help our community, this person, or solve this problem?
Nancy died in 2015, but she lives on here in Freeport due her legacy of kindness and service. We should all follow Nancy Clark's example.
Without a doubt, the principles I have stood by while in public office are integrity and transparency.
There are so many pressures- public and private - which try to sway an elected official's decision-making. I have experienced many attempts at intimidation, social media shaming, incredible amounts of yelling and horrible personal remarks- as well as flattery, promises of funding, and persistent communication - to persuade me to vote one way or the other. I am happy to report that frankly none of it worked, because for every single vote - and I mean every vote - that I have taken as an elected official, I have explained exactly how I arrived at that vote and why I thought it was best for the community. Even when it went against established interests. Even when I knew the social and political repercussions would be significant.
My mantra has always been "Reasonable people disagree" and that data-driven and transparent decision-making HAD to be the foundation of our work. I am incredibly proud of my record as an elected official. You have to know who you are, and what drives you. My integrity is not a commodity.
Integrity, communication skills, and a strong work ethic are all keys to being a successful officeholder.
As I stated previously, having integrity is key for an officeholder to be able to make clear and transparent decisions.
One also needs to be able to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life, and with variety of viewpoints. My training as a clinical social worker has been incredibly helpful in this regard. I learned early in my career how to connect, ask tough yet important questions, set boundaries and let people know I cared deeply about what they were saying. Active listening has been the biggest tool in my toolbox whether I have been in a patient's home, at a Council Meeting, in the grocery store, or staffing a crisis line. My ability to reflect back to that person what they are saying and connect with empathy has made all the difference in any setting.
My strong work ethic is the third key element which has led to my success as a public office holder. Elected officials are often confronted with issues where they may not have strong familiarity. As a newly elected Councilor, my first major issue was whether or not to establish Quiet Zones in our community for passenger rail service- not something I did not have a baseline for. Digging in, talking with experts, evaluating decibel measurements, listening to residents, doing additional research - all had to be done so that I could make an informed decision and ultimately lead the Council discussion on the issue. This work ethic translated into every issue area- every vote was an opportunity to research and understand. I found I was a better representative because I took the time and effort to do the work and engage deeply in the issues.
"My Shot" from the musical Hamilton. I have the album on repeat...absolutely cannot get enough of this masterpiece whether I am driving or washing the dishes!
Absolutely. As an at-large Town Councilor for six years, I have a strong record of constituent service, of taking on tough issues, and of advocacy for issues most important to my community. I know how to discuss issues with people who absolutely disagree with me, but with whom I can work together to find common ground.
In this race I have often said that actions speak louder than words. If a candidate talks about the importance of key issues, then she had better be able to tell you what she has done to work on those issues over the years to improve the lives of people in Freeport and Pownal, as well as in Maine. I have concrete results and outcomes in the areas of healthcare access and reform, environmental activism, educational programs and budgets, job creation, and social activism. I have a record of public service and community involvement that stretches over two decades in Maine and this community. Voters in my community will know what I will do in Augusta, because it is what I have been doing for years in public service. My experience will continue to work for this community and will be a strong voice in Augusta.
Absolutely. When I was first elected to the Town Council in 2012, it was time of great upheaval in our community. A major project had been approved by the previous Council, and the residents of my community were deeply concerned about the lack of transparency around the process and the responsiveness of its elected officials. My main goal was to restore public trust in our governing body, through transparency in decision-making and open dialogue with my other Councilors and the public.
To do this, I built relationships which each and every one of my other Council members. Two years later I was unanimously elected Chair of the Council. While our Council is officially nonpartisan, it was well-known that I am a Democrat very involved in my local party. I asked a Republican to run with me as Vice Chair of the Council. We developed an incredibly strong working relationship that had one focus: is the issue before us good for Freeport? I believe our community was better served, and indeed stronger, for our partnership. Every member of that Council knew that their voice was represented in leadership. Modeling respective dialogue and differences helped to heal the divides in our community, and emphasized the transparent and data-driven decision-making that became hallmarks of my service. there were a variety of views, for example, about climate change, and how to address it locally. By finding common ground and approaching each issue in a way that made sense to each Councilor, we were able to pass the most comprehensive environmental initiatives for my community while I was in leadership.
I believe this same approach will work at the State level as well. I have worked with many of the current legislators on policy issues, and believe there is common ground in a wide range of areas. Practical, common sense solutions can be achieved if there is a willingness to work together. My experience is an excellent example of this goal.
I would like to be a member of the Appropriations Committee. As I indicated in an earlier section, we can only accomplish our policy goals by funding our key priorities. I have extensive experience with all levels of municipal, county, and state budgets, and direct experience as well with large state funded program areas. I believe I can make a significant impact for our community and our state on this committee. There is conventional wisdom that first-time legislators rarely are assigned to Appropriations, but it did happen in the last session, and with the high level of turnover in the Legislature this coming term, there will be a need for experienced voices at the table.
I also would like to support the work of the Permanent Commission on the Status of Race, Indigenous and Maine Tribal Populations due my work within the social justice landscape here in Maine, and the intersectionality of so many of these issues. I do not have to be on the committee to be an ally, but believe the more voices amplifying this work will mean better outcomes for every Mainer.
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Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Maine State Legislature was in session from December 7 to March 30.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Maine State Legislature was in session from January 5 to May 9.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Maine State Legislature was in session from December 2 to March 30.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Maine State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 17.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Sachs is married with two children.[5]
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Maine House of Representatives District 102 |
Officeholder Maine House of Representatives District 102 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 29, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Maine House Democrats, "Representative Melanie F. Sachs," accessed January 15, 2021
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "2012 Candidate List," accessed May 14, 2012
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Tabulations for Elections held in 2012," accessed March 19, 2014
- ↑ Campaign website
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Abigail Griffin (R) |
Maine House of Representatives District 102 2022-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Sara Gideon (D) |
Maine House of Representatives District 48 2020-2022 |
Succeeded by Holly Stover (D) |
