Melanie Burkholder

Voted against adding support for making polluting companies pay for climate damage to the city's legislative platform. It passed 4-1.

December 9, 2025Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against moving ahead with a feasibility study for a solar project at Maerkle Reservoir. It passed 4-1.

November 19, 2024Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against banning smoking inside multi-unit homes, calling it government overreach. It passed 4-1.

August 20, 2024Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against drafting a full smoking ban in apartments and their shared outdoor areas. It passed 4-1.

August 22, 2023Opposes Environment and Public Health

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted to create a new police community policing team with six added staff and $684,350. It passed 5-0.

March 24, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against raising City Council members' pay by the regional inflation rate. It passed 4-1. Voted the same way on January 14, 2025.

January 13, 2026Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to seek bids to replace the synthetic turf field at Poinsettia Community Park. It passed 4-1.

October 7, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to add one more park ranger to the budget. It failed 2-3.

June 17, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to make an early payment toward the city's pension debt. It passed 4-1.

June 17, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against the city's 2025-26 Homelessness Action Plan funding plan, saying the county should provide those services. It passed 4-1.

January 28, 2025Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against placing a ballot measure to raise the Proposition H spending limit for city projects. It passed 3-2.

June 18, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against keeping the city's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion manager job. The motion to keep it failed 2-3.

June 18, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to have staff propose a new Proposition H spending limit tied to inflation, with public safety exemptions. It passed 5-0.

May 14, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to stop a $283,241 design contract for more changes to Tamarack Avenue, citing past spending. It passed 3-2.

February 27, 2024Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a $315,000 contract with Interfaith Community Services for homeless outreach and case management. It passed 4-1.

June 20, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to commit $5.22 million from city reserves toward the Village railroad trench project and a state grant bid. It passed 5-0.

June 13, 2023Opposes Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a $2.2 million forgivable loan to expand the La Posada de Guadalupe homeless shelter. It passed 4-1.

May 16, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a 3.5% pay raise for City Council members. It passed 3-1.

January 24, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted to create a new police community policing team with six added staff and $684,350. It passed 5-0.

March 24, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted for new e-bike rules, including banning e-bikes in two more city parks. It passed 5-0.

February 10, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion asking for new police enforcement tools to keep order and protect residents. It passed 5-0.

July 29, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to add one more park ranger to the budget. It failed 2-3.

June 17, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to review removing the Windsor Pointe property manager and to require 24-hour security there. It passed 4-0.

August 20, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a 50-unit mixed-use condo project at 840 Carlsbad Village Drive. It passed 4-1.

July 28, 2026Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a four-story Roosevelt Street building with 23 apartments, citing too little parking. It passed 4-1.

July 29, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion for a resolution backing the Our Neighborhood Voices local-control housing initiative. It failed 2-3.

June 17, 2025Opposes Housing Affordability

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a $315,000 contract with Interfaith Community Services for homeless outreach and case management. It passed 4-1.

June 20, 2023Opposes Social Programs and Welfare

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against a $2.2 million forgivable loan to expand the La Posada de Guadalupe homeless shelter. It passed 4-1.

May 16, 2023Opposes Social Programs and Welfare

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against flying the Intersectional Pride flag at City Hall each June. It passed 3-2.

June 13, 2023Opposes Civil Rights

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to seek bids to replace the synthetic turf field at Poinsettia Community Park. It passed 4-1.

October 7, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion for a scaled-back Barrio traffic plan with one traffic circle and public art at Pine and Harding. It passed 5-0.

July 29, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to commit $5.22 million from city reserves toward the Village railroad trench project and a state grant bid. It passed 5-0.

June 13, 2023Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion asking the city manager to study the vacant Carlsbad Theater property and options to save it. It passed 5-0.

July 7, 2026

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Received the Republican Party of San Diego County's endorsement for Carlsbad City Council District 1 in 2026.

May 6, 2026

Source: kpbs.org

Voted against a resolution declaring that bullying has no place in Carlsbad public spaces, preferring to wait for school district input. It passed 4-1.

April 14, 2026

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to add diagonal parking and cut westbound Grand Avenue to one lane near the Village. It passed 5-0.

March 10, 2026

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to have the legislative subcommittee discuss group homes and possible state law proposals. It passed 5-0.

September 23, 2025

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to delay the Barrio traffic circle contract and seek other options, citing lost parking. It passed 5-0.

June 24, 2025

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against accepting Coastal Commission changes to the city's coastal zoning rules. They passed 4-1.

May 20, 2025

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Seconded and voted to let businesses apply for code changes to allow drive-thrus. It passed 3-2.

April 29, 2025

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against water and wastewater rate increases, citing the impact on people with fixed incomes. They passed 4-1.

April 22, 2025

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion directing the city manager to look for places for new dog parks citywide. It passed 5-0.

March 18, 2025

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against keeping the city's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion manager job. The motion to keep it failed 2-3.

June 18, 2024

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to develop options for easing the city's drive-thru ban, from keeping it to allowing them citywide. It passed 5-0.

May 21, 2024

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Seconded and voted for ordering a security and management plan for the Windsor Pointe supportive housing sites. It passed 4-1.

March 12, 2024

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against new rules limiting how council members use city letterhead. They passed 4-1.

October 24, 2023

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against asking staff to return with an update on local rules favoring all-electric buildings. It passed 3-2.

July 11, 2023

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion asking staff for ways the city could support community theater programs. It passed 5-0.

June 13, 2023

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion asking staff for the cost and a funding source to lower the railroad tracks into a trench in the Village. It passed 5-0.

May 23, 2023

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Made the motion to hold a public community budget workshop on June 1, 2023. It passed 5-0.

May 16, 2023

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against removing the opening prayer (invocation) from council meeting agendas. The change passed 4-1.

May 16, 2023

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Voted against creating the Carlsbad Community-Police Engagement Commission. It passed 3-1.

December 13, 2022

Source: records.carlsbadca.gov

Received the endorsement of Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall for her 2020 run for State Assembly District 76.

November 22, 2019

Source: northcountydailystar.com

A Sacramento Superior Court judge ruled her "doctor" ballot title misleading for her 2020 Assembly run. The court changed it to "business owner."

December 26, 2019

Source: thecoastnews.com