Candidate for
Mayor; Proposed City of San Fernando Valley

Mel Wilson brings three decades of community, civic, and business experience to his campaign to be the first mayor of the new City of the San Fernando Valley.

As Mayor of the new city, Wilson will ensure that tax dollars stay in the Valley to improve the quality of life and provide the essential services that have been missing, incomplete, or slow in coming from the City of Los Angeles. To attract and retain the best labor pool, he will work hard to ensure that all city employees benefits are protected and enhanced.

Wilson has refined his negotiation skills by closing more that 600 sales of residential real estate as a Realtor and Realtist serving the San Fernando Valley. Wilson has honed his political expertise by service on multiple commissions, business, and community organizations.

Included in his long list of achievements and an ongoing history of community activism are appointments by Richard J. Riordan, former Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, to serve as Vice President of the Los Angeles City Fire Department Commission, on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Mel was also appointed to the San Fernando Valley Transit Zone Joint Powers Authority by the late John Ferraro, President of the Los Angeles City Council. Former Mayor Tom Bradley appointed Wilson to his Small Business Advisory Board.

Wilson also served:

• On the Executive Committee of the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley
• On the Board of Directors of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association
• On the Physical Therapy Board of California. Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, Speaker Emeritus of the State Assembly appointed him.
• As the housing advocate for the 7,200-member Southland Regional Association of Realtors, which serves the San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys
• On the Board of Directors of both the California and National Association of Realtors
• As Founding Chairman of the Pacoima Enterprise Zone Advisory Commission
• Twelve years on the Advisory Board of California State University, Northridge

Wilson also served terms as the elected President of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, the United Chamber of Commerce, which was 24 participating chambers and 8,200 small business members, and the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce.

His awards and achievements include being selected in 1991 as the distinguished Realtor of the Year by the San Fernando Valley Association of Realtors, named Volunteer of the Year by the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Department, one of the San Fernando Valley Business Journal top 25 Emerging Business leaders, selection to the Kodak All-America Football Team in 1975 and being drafted in 1976 by the New York Football Giants.

More importantly, Wilson has been married for 29 years, raised three beautiful children, and remains active in church and neighborhood activities.