Delegate joseline peña melnyk
Elected Officials
Click on the links below to visit the legislative websites of our colleagues
U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer (5th District: Beltsville, College Park)
U.S. Congressman Anthony Brown (4th District: Laurel, Gambrills)
U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (3rd District: Piney Orchard, Odenton)
Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh
State Comptroller Peter Franchot
Prince George's County Council Member Tom Dernoga
Prince George's County Council Member Dannielle Glaros
Anne Arundel County Council Member Andrew Pruski
Early Years
I am an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. I attended John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, struggled with my English, and became a United States citizen in 1983. My teachers may remember catching me asleep at my desk after working nights at the fried chicken store, but I graduated a semester early.
Wanting to leave New York City and its distractions far behind, I left for Buffalo State College in January, 1985. I arrived in the middle of a blizzard, a first for this island girl, with $33 in my pocket. The money was a gift from one of my high school teachers.
College
I was determined to be the first in my family to achieve a college degree. At Buffalo State I studied criminal justice and worked in a nursing home to make ends meet. I also volunteered as a clerk in the municipal court. After graduating, I attended law school at the State University of New York at Buffalo on an equal opportunity scholarship. There, I continued my passion for criminal law and graduated in 1991.
A Career in the Law
My first legal job was at the Philadelphia Public Defender Service and I later moved to the Washington, D.C. area where I married Markian Melnyk, my law school sweetheart. Most of my legal work has been in public interest jobs. I worked as a guardian for children in the foster care system and both as a court appointed defense attorney and as an Assistant United States Attorney, prosecuting criminal cases and arguing appeals in Washington, D.C.
I have seen the effects of crime on families, businesses and neighborhoods. Violence also touched me personally when the father of my niece and nephew was killed. I helped to support my sister after that tragedy and to raise and educate her children. The oldest two are now in college. When I say that I support our police and community centers and programs that keep young adults off the streets, those are not empty words. I also have learned that strong families are important to building a healthy community. These are the values that I carry with me.
Family and Public Service
When I was blessed with a son, Camilo, and later twin daughters, Alejandra and Katerina, I left the world of paid employment to raise my children. All mothers, and some fathers too, know that caring for children is a wonderful 24/7 job. But I liked being involved in the community and I joined Casa de Maryland, a non-profit social services organization, when I was invited to serve on its board of directors. In 2003, I jumped into politics when I was elected to the College Park City Council. In 2005, I won re-election. In November 2006, I was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates.
I have lived in Hyattsville and College Park for the past 13 years and I am proud of the way I have represented my neighbors on the City Council, in front of County government, and in Annapolis arguing on their behalf. I do not take for granted the trust that they have put in me. I intend to represent your interests in Annapolis with an independent and strong voice, not the voice of special interests.
If re-elected, Joseline will be the new Chair of the House Health Committee.