Royal Oak's Pro Tem Mayor Announces Run For State House

ROYAL OAK, MI — Royal Oak's pro tem mayor Melanie Macey announced Wednesday she will run for state congress, according to a news release.

The progressive candidate said she will seek the state's newly drawn 7th district seat to Michigan's House of Representatives. The two Democratic incumbents in the area will not seek relection, as Jim Ellison completed his term in office and Shri Thanedar has announced his intention to run for the United States Congress.

"I want to go to Lansing to fight for higher wages, strong and safe public education, and
immediate action on climate change," Macey said. "We need to continue to invest in our infrastructure through good union jobs and set our state up for the future of electric vehicles and alternative energy."

Macey was first elected to the Royal Oak City Commission in 2017, as part of a wave of new political candidates motivated to get involved by the 2016 election of Donald Trump.

"We continue to face challenges from an increasingly radical Republican Party," Macey said. "I will defend our democracy and guarantee everyone can exercise their right to vote. I will work tirelessly to protect a woman’s right to choose in Michigan, even if a politicized Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade."

Macey spent most of her time as a city commissioner dedicated to improving neighborhoods and parks, engaging with the community and environmental sustainability.

"I put my full trust in Melanie Macey to represent our shared values in Lansing," Royal Oak
Mayor Michael Fournier said. "She is a staunch advocate for everyday people and brings the experience, determination and passion we desperately need to fix Lansing. I’m proud to call her a friend and colleague."

Macey moved to what is now the Michigan's 7th House District in 2004, where she lives here with her husband and three children, who all attend Royal Oak Schools. She has worked as a legal aid attorney, serving disadvantaged clients in Wayne County, Oakland County, and across southeast Michigan. She has also worked at the University of Michigan Law School to place students in public interest and government service.

"I’m excited by the prospect of representing Detroit, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, and
Royal Oak Township," Macey said. "We will rise together when we focus on: good jobs,
good schools, and safe and thriving neighborhoods for everyone who calls our place home. I
look forward to the honor of representing all these great cities."