STATE HOUSE / 6TH DISTRICT / DEMOCRAT

MELANIE MACEY

Melanie Macey of Royal Oak has a BS in political science, an MS in computer science and a law degree. She has served on the Royal Oak City Commission, the Royal Oak Library Board and the Royal Oak School District Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion council.

Government transparency

Michigan is one of only two states where the state legislature and administration are not subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. Although Governor Whitmer has promised in 2018 to extend the FOIA to cover her office and the legislature and the senate passed legislation in 2025, the House has still left these bills in the House Government Operations Committee with no movement. Do you support extending the Freedom of Information Act to cover the legislative and administrative branches of state government?

Yes. I see no reason why I was subject to FOIA as a City Commissioner but would not be as a State Representative, where the decisions I make may affect millions of Michiganders.  Michigan is one of the worst states in terms of government transparency, and exempting the legislature and governor from FOIA is one of the primary reasons for our low ranking. Voters deserve to know how decisions are made and who is influencing those decisions. I will proudly support efforts to extend FOIA to both the legislative and executive branches and strengthen transparency throughout state government.

Data Center Farms

Large scale data centers have become an important issue in Michigan. Should the state be providing incentives to attractive large scale data centers? What regulations should be enacted to protect residents from possible increased electric rates and impact on water sources in the state? Lastly, there have been concerns that the state could intervene in the local approval process along the lines of what has been done on alternative energy projects in the state. Would you support the state taking more control of the local approval process?

The widespread pushback against large-scale data centers from across the political spectrum demonstrates that Michiganders believe we have gone too far in chasing data center approval without considering the costs to local communities. We cannot participate in a race to the bottom only to find out that all the benefits are going to large corporations at the cost of Michiganders’ health and quality of life. In truth, we need to be addressing the overall impact of AI, as the insatiable demand for AI in all aspects of our lives is negatively affecting our world in far more profound ways than we are taking into account in the data center conversation. Leaving the development and regulation of AI in the hands of corporations that value making money above all other considerations is a dark prospect for our future. But, here we are. To answer the question about regulations, we need to consider how we can ensure data centers are not causing harm to our homes, families, and communities. It must be non-negotiable that the data centers bear the cost of all electricity and water needs, that they reuse water and minimize usage, that they use renewable energy,  and that the centers are built with union labor. There need to be agreements in place for ongoing regulation, including energy audits, water usage audits, environmental impact studies, and utility-rate monitoring, with the ability to shut it down if non-compliant. I do not support the state overriding local control in the approval process for data centers. If the project is truly beneficial, then I am confident local communities can support them through open, transparent public approval processes. If they are not beneficial for local communities, I see no reason for the state to force them on a community.

Economic incentive policy

There has been ongoing debate in both parties in Lansing about past and current administrations’ economic development policies for attracting new business to the state. What is you position on the current economic development efforts?

Michigan’s recent approach to economic development incentives has produced mixed results at best.  We are not going to grow the Michigan economy by giving tax breaks and incentives to a small number of highly-profitable companies to open a few facilities in the hopes that the promised jobs materialize. The future of Michigan has to be a full reinvestment in people. A skilled workforce will attract business. Keeping our talented students in Michigan to develop their business ideas here will grow business. Rather than focusing on one-off incentive packages, we should invest in the fundamentals that benefit all Michiganders: education, infrastructure, housing, workforce development, and quality of life. Those investments will produce durable economic growth and make Michigan a place where both businesses and families want to stay.

New taxes to offset Medicaid cuts

Michigan is facing major cuts to federal funds for Medicaid, thanks to the 2025 adoption of President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. To counteract these cuts, Governor Whitmer had proposed increased taxes on tobacco and vape products and new taxes on digital advertising, which were ignored by legislators in recent budget sessions. Would you support similar tax proposals in the future? Why or why not?

The Trump cuts to Medicaid threaten healthcare access for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders and place additional strain on hospitals and healthcare providers. We must increase spending on Medicaid and health care generally in light of the federal cuts. The duration of the cuts remains an open question that makes it challenging to address, but preserving healthcare coverage must be a priority. If more state revenue is necessary, I would prefer approaches that ask the most profitable corporations to contribute more rather than relying primarily on taxes that disproportionately affect working families. That said, I would support reasonable revenue measures, including those previously proposed by Governor Whitmer, if the alternative is reducing healthcare access, cutting services, or forcing vulnerable residents to lose coverage.

Financial disclosure

Voters approved financial disclosure for all state office holders and candidates. Are you satisfied with the regulations developed by lawmakers or are there changes you think need to be made? Explain.

The financial disclosure laws implementing the measure approved by voters were an important step forward, but there is room for improvement. I appreciated efforts by AG Nessel to close remaining loopholes, but some remain. In particular, I believe we should address the asset carousel problem by requiring spousal financial disclosure and should increase penalties for knowingly filing inaccurate or misleading reports. Transparency and accountability are essential to maintaining public trust.

Validity of voting returns

Did you accept the returns of the presidential election in 2020?

Yes. Michigan’s 2020 election was secure, accurate, and thoroughly reviewed.

Top three-five issues

What are the top three-five issues you want to address if you are ultimately elected?

Strengthening Public Education – Fully funding public schools, expanding student support services, investing in career and technical education, and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education. Making Michigan More Affordable – Lowering the costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and utilities while supporting fair wages and strong worker protections. Building Infrastructure and Sustainable Communities – Investing in roads, water systems, clean energy, public transit, and infrastructure that supports long-term economic growth and climate resilience. Growing Economy Through Workforce Development – Investing in workforce training, higher education, apprenticeships, and economic policies that help businesses succeed by investing in people rather than corporate giveaways. Protecting Democracy and Fundamental Rights – Defending voting rights, increasing government transparency, protecting reproductive freedom, and ensuring every Michigander’s voice is heard.

Why vote for you

Why should a November voter select you over another candidate?

I bring a combination of experience, effectiveness, and commitment to public service that will allow me to make an impact from day one. For eight years, I served on the Royal Oak City Commission, where I worked through difficult issues, balanced competing interests, and delivered results for residents. As Policy and Government Affairs Director for Promote the Vote, I helped lead statewide efforts to protect voting rights, draft legislation, build coalitions, and advocate successfully for policies that expanded access to the ballot. I understand how government works at both the local and state levels, and I know how to bring people together to turn ideas into policy. Just as importantly, I am deeply committed to the values that brought me into public service in the first place: protecting democracy, defending fundamental rights, strengthening public education, safeguarding our environment, and creating economic opportunity for everyone. This is a critical moment for Michigan and for our country, where democracy itself seems to be at risk. I am ready to bring both the experience and the energy necessary to meet that moment and fight for the people I represent.