Ned Melanson
He/Him
Currently: Public Defender and Disability Attorney
Election history: 1st-time candidate
He/Him
Currently: Public Defender and Disability Attorney
Election history: 1st-time candidate
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 stated 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.
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.
The soul of the community is its people. We need more affordable housing, that is, for the soul of the city to be restored.
Any gap in connectivity in the bike-to-school network, no matter how small, is a huge safety issue and should be filled ASAP.
We are striking to save our profession and protect the public's right to competent criminal defense.
| Organization | Cambridge? | Union? | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Better Cambridge | |||
| SEIU Local 888 | |||
| Cambridge Bicycle Safety | |||
| 32BJ SEIU | this cycle | ||
| Massachusetts Sierra Club | this cycle |
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Pedestrian and cycling safety, policy, infrastructure, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Housing policy, development, governance
Various questions relevant to interests of the MIT Grad Sudent Congress and broader community
Various questions relevant to interests of the MIT Grad Sudent Congress and broader community
Open-ended Q&A on the popular internet forum
Open-ended Q&A on the popular internet forum
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
Housing, zoning, governance, infrastructure
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association City Council Candidate Night 2025
Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association City Council Candidate Night 2025
Porter Square Neighborhood Association and Baldwin Neighborhood Council City Council Candidate Forum at Lesley University
Porter Square Neighborhood Association and Baldwin Neighborhood Council City Council Candidate Forum at Lesley University
"This year, we turned the traditional format upside down: community members with lived experience will speak first, and candidates will listen and respond. We heard directly about pressing issues like housing, mental health, and food security—and learn how candidates plan to act on them."
"This year, we turned the traditional format upside down: community members with lived experience will speak first, and candidates will listen and respond. We heard directly about pressing issues like housing, mental health, and food security—and learn how candidates plan to act on them."
Zoom-based panel run by 350Mass, Mothers Out Front, Green Cambridge, Elders Climate Action, others.
Zoom-based panel run by 350Mass, Mothers Out Front, Green Cambridge, Elders Climate Action, others.
“I went from sort of nobody politically to — definitely an underdog — but a serious underdog,” Melanson said.
Oct. 27, 2025 — Laurel M. Shugart“I went from sort of nobody politically to — definitely an underdog — but a serious underdog,” Melanson said.
Melanson, up against nearly 20 other candidates, said he is running to cement a “fifth progressive vote” on the Council, establishing a majority of Councilors who align on issues like affordable housing and safer bicycle lanes.
“I do think that the public opinion is behind housing. It’s behind safe cycling and sustainable transportation,” Melanson said. “But you have to mobilize. You have to get people out. You have to get people organized and voting.”
Oct. 27, 2025 — Laurel M. ShugartMelanson, up against nearly 20 other candidates, said he is running to cement a “fifth progressive vote” on the Council, establishing a majority of Councilors who align on issues like affordable housing and safer bicycle lanes.
“I do think that the public opinion is behind housing. It’s behind safe cycling and sustainable transportation,” Melanson said. “But you have to mobilize. You have to get people out. You have to get people organized and voting.”
“People are much more polite than our Internet age will give off, even if they don’t agree with you,” said Ned Melanson, a public defender during the day (though currently on strike). “People like to talk!”
Oct. 27, 2025 — Michael F. Fitzgerald“People are much more polite than our Internet age will give off, even if they don’t agree with you,” said Ned Melanson, a public defender during the day (though currently on strike). “People like to talk!”
Challenger Ned Melanson echoed McGovern’s sentiments, saying housing development was integral to rebuild what he sees as the “soul” of the city: its residents.
“The soul of the community is its people,” he said. “We need more affordable housing, that is, for the soul of the city to be restored.”
Oct. 24, 2025 — Dionise Guerra-CarrilloChallenger Ned Melanson echoed McGovern’s sentiments, saying housing development was integral to rebuild what he sees as the “soul” of the city: its residents.
“The soul of the community is its people,” he said. “We need more affordable housing, that is, for the soul of the city to be restored.”
Challenger Ned S. Melanson — a public defender at the Cambridge District Court — said any deal Harvard could make with the Trump administration is “as good as dead on arrival.”
“You can’t really tell the story of Cambridge without including Harvard, and I felt it was really important to be here,” Melanson said.
Oct. 15, 2025 — Ann E. Gombiner and Dionise Guerra-CarrilloChallenger Ned S. Melanson — a public defender at the Cambridge District Court — said any deal Harvard could make with the Trump administration is “as good as dead on arrival.”
“You can’t really tell the story of Cambridge without including Harvard, and I felt it was really important to be here,” Melanson said.
“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.