Ned Melanson
He/Him
- Currently
- Public Defender and Disability Attorney
- Election history
- 1st-time candidate
He/Him
Ned Melanson is a public defender and disability attorney running as a first-time challenger. He rents in Cambridgeport and is on strike with the Massachusetts Bar Advocates.
A self-described "all-around progressive urbanist," Melanson is running on three core platforms: safe and accessible streets, more housing of all kinds, and bracing the city for the effects of the federal administration.
Ned's staked housing stances reflect an "all of the above" approach to building more housing, including upzoning in squares and corridors, maximizing the number of homes built via IZ, and exploring additional methods for building Affordable/Social Housing.
He has expressed continued support for tenant protections and spoke repeatedly in support of the project to allow the demolition of the AJ Spears Funeral Home to construct 70+ homes next to Central Square.
They put the housing crisis in quotation marks. For my clients, and for myself and for my friends, it’s not something you put in quotation marks, it’s a very real everyday problem you think about.
Any gap in connectivity in the bike-to-school network, no matter how small, is a huge safety issue and should be filled ASAP.
They don’t see Cambridge as soil that needs to be “reclaimed.” They see it as the place they want to raise their kids. The place they came to study or work and fell in love with. The place where they were born and lived their entire lives. They love this wonderful, diverse city that represents something good in a country on a bad course.
We are striking to save our profession and protect the public's right to competent criminal defense.
Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
---|---|---|---|
32BJ SEIU | |||
A Better Cambridge | |||
SEIU Local 888 | |||
Cambridge Bicycle Safety |
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
“I want to Trump-proof the City of Cambridge,” challenger Ned S. Melanson said, adding he will specifically focus on “protecting the immigrant community.”
Sept. 12, 2025 — Shawn A. Boehmer, Dionise Guerra-Carrillo, and Jack B. Reardon“I want to Trump-proof the City of Cambridge,” challenger Ned S. Melanson said, adding he will specifically focus on “protecting the immigrant community.”
Melanson, who has offices in Central Square, sees the effects of the city’s homelessness crisis daily, including damage to property and used needles on the streets. He also sees how broken sidewalks make it difficult for people with disabilities to get around.
“Even though these are my clients – I represent them and I feel for them – this is just really a broad issue,” he said. “It needs to be addressed.”
Aug. 11, 2025 — Alvin BuyinzaMelanson, who has offices in Central Square, sees the effects of the city’s homelessness crisis daily, including damage to property and used needles on the streets. He also sees how broken sidewalks make it difficult for people with disabilities to get around.
“Even though these are my clients – I represent them and I feel for them – this is just really a broad issue,” he said. “It needs to be addressed.”
As a public defender, Ned Melanson said he is on the “front lines” of many of the issues Cambridge faces. And in representing clients who face poverty and homelessness and substance abuse issues, he said, he has perspective and ideas on how to help the city’s most vulnerable groups to bring to the City Council in November.
Aug. 11, 2025 — Alvin BuyinzaAs a public defender, Ned Melanson said he is on the “front lines” of many of the issues Cambridge faces. And in representing clients who face poverty and homelessness and substance abuse issues, he said, he has perspective and ideas on how to help the city’s most vulnerable groups to bring to the City Council in November.
On the campaign trail in Cambridge, people I talk to share the same story: they’re tired of housing policy that’s been rigged against them. They’re tired of being talked down to by the same people who pulled the ladder up after themselves. They’re tired of struggling to fulfill basic needs that are taken for granted in other countries. They don’t see Cambridge as soil that needs to be “reclaimed.” They see it as the place they want to raise their kids. The place they came to study or work and fell in love with. The place where they were born and lived their entire lives. They love this wonderful, diverse city that represents something good in a country on a bad course. These people are part of the soul of Cambridge, and they will vote in the upcoming City Council election.
July 25, 2025 — Ned MelansonOn the campaign trail in Cambridge, people I talk to share the same story: they’re tired of housing policy that’s been rigged against them. They’re tired of being talked down to by the same people who pulled the ladder up after themselves. They’re tired of struggling to fulfill basic needs that are taken for granted in other countries. They don’t see Cambridge as soil that needs to be “reclaimed.” They see it as the place they want to raise their kids. The place they came to study or work and fell in love with. The place where they were born and lived their entire lives. They love this wonderful, diverse city that represents something good in a country on a bad course. These people are part of the soul of Cambridge, and they will vote in the upcoming City Council election.