My name is Melanie Waddell, and I am running for Town Clerk in May 2022.
I am a fourth-generation Rockport resident and grew up with a true appreciation for public service. My father, Jim Waddell, served as a Tax Assessor in Rockport for 24 years, and my grandmother, Nancy Waddell, served as Town Clerk from 1968-1973. I am currently the Assistant Town Clerk, and have been in this position for the last two years. I love serving my community. It is not only in my DNA; it is my passion.
The Town Clerk is a unique role in our town’s government. The Clerk is responsible for handling vital records such as births, deaths and marriages, preserving our rich Rockport history, and keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of the future by ensuring the safety and integrity of elections.
2020 was an unprecedented year for elections. We had four elections in one year during a worldwide pandemic, and this required an innovative approach to the process. As Assistant Town Clerk, I was on the front lines for elections and Town Meetings, meeting rapid change with responsible but flexible response and helping navigate us all through the season of uncertainty. Rockport was also chosen at random by the State to complete an audit of the Presidential election, which reconfirmed the accuracy of our local election process. Overcoming several challenges, we were able to ensure a safe and healthy voting process, including mail-in voting, early voting, and absentee voting.
We still find ourselves in unprecedented times that require creative ways to solve problems and cooperative ways to keep our community strong and unified. I have honed the skills necessary for long-term success and the ability to continue to lead our town through these times. As future Town Clerk, I will also develop lasting systems that will prepare us even better for the future.
Thank you for voting for Melanie Waddell as Rockport’s next Town Clerk on May 10, 2022. I will be honored to continue to serve the Town of Rockport by preserving the past and moving forward together into the future.