Melisa Fonseca Marshalltown’s First Latina City Council Member

0
209
Melisa Fonseca speaking for "Nos Vemos en Marshalltown" at the Iowa State Fair Noche Latina. Photo by Tar Macias / Hola Iowa
Advertisements

By Joaquin Ramirez, Hola Iowa

Marshalltown made history in July 2024 by electing Melisa Fonseca as its first Latina city council member. Fonseca, a realtor and native of Marshalltown, won the election with 56.3 % of the vote, marking a significant milestone for the city’s Latinx community and other underrepresented groups. 

“The news has had a big impact locally, and I hope it will inspire others,” Fonseca shared. Her election symbolizes progress and hope for the future. As the city’s first Latina council member, she aims to uplift her community and increase civic engagement. Her election proves civic leadership is an achievable goal for others in the community, particularly younger generations. Her election demonstrates that diversity in local governance benefits everyone.

Advertisements

As a full-time real estate broker and lifelong Marshalltown resident, her understanding of the city is both personal and professional. “I know everything about Marshalltown, and I feel like this helps me be a good city council member,” she explained. As a native of Marshalltown and a realtor, her deep connection to the city gives her a unique perspective on effectively serving its citizens. 

Advertisements

A Vision for Inclusivity & Engagement

Melissa Fonseca becomes the first Latina on the Marshalltown city council.

One of Fonseca’s top priorities is ensuring that the Latinx community and other minority groups are included in the city’s decision-making processes. Language barriers have long been a challenge for Marshalltown’s Latinx residents, with many public services unavailable in Spanish. Fonseca advocates for interpreters at city council meetings to represent the various languages spoken in the community. Her emphasis on inclusivity across all races, cultures, and age groups reflects her commitment to giving a voice to everyone in Marshalltown. “Many Latinx community members don’t know much about the city government and its purpose,” Fonseca said. This gap has led to a lack of participation, something Fonseca is determined to change. 

She emphasizes that change requires community involvement. She invites the Latinx community to attend city council meetings and voice their concerns. “I encourage the community to attend meetings or even sit in on them to see how the city functions,” she added. Marshalltown residents can attend city council meetings the second and fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 pm in the Carnegie Building at 10 W State Street, 2nd Floor – City Council Chambers, Marshalltown, IA 50158.

Advertisements

Campaign Journey

Initially, Fonseca hadn’t planned to enter politics. “Several people encouraged me to run, but at that time, I was focused on my career,” she shared. After earning her real estate broker’s license and establishing her agency, Alta Vista Real Estate, Fonseca felt ready to take on public service responsibilities. However, her candidacy came at a difficult time. The seat she sought was left vacant after the passing of Al Hoop, a respected city council member and Bobcat Baseball coach who had also been her counselor. His death allowed Fonseca to honor his legacy of service to the community. With the vacancy needing to be filled and with the encouragement and support of others, she decided that she was in the best position in her life to finally run for city council.

Once Fonseca decided to run, she wasted no time. Despite the tight timeline, she launched her campaign in May, just two months before the election. She worked tirelessly with volunteers and community members to secure the signatures needed to get on the ballot. Her efforts resulted in 105 signatures, far surpassing the 75 required. Melisa won the election with a staggering 340 votes out of the 604 votes cast. 

Advertisements
New Marshalltown 4th City Councilor Melisa Fonseca is being sworn in.
Photo by Robert Maharry/Times-Republican

Marshalltown’s Future

Melisa Fonseca’s historic election as Marshalltown’s first Latina city council member marks a turning point for this Iowa community. Her victory not only breaks barriers but also paves the way for a more inclusive and representative local government. As Marshalltown continues to evolve, Fonseca’s presence on the city council promises to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to longstanding challenges. “I hope that my election shows others in the community and future generations that this is an achievable goal,” she said. Fonseca’s election could catalyze broader changes in the city’s political landscape. It may inspire more diverse candidates to run for office, leading to a local government that more accurately reflects Marshalltown’s multicultural population.

Facebook Comments

Advertisements