Henry Mello
Democratic
| Date | Party | Office | Votes | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-02-1976 | Democratic | AD-28 | 61322 | Win |
| 11-07-1978 | Democratic | AD-28 | 57144 | Win |
| 11-04-1980 | Democratic | SD-17 | 117769 | Win |
| 11-06-1984 | Democratic | SD-17 | 148827 | Win |
| 11-08-1988 | Democratic | SD-17 | 170514 | Win |
| 11-03-1992 | Democratic | SD-15 | 162771 | Win |
Candidate Biography:
Henry John Mello
Born: March 27, 1924 in Watsonville, CA
Married: Helen Burns
Children: Stephen, John, Michael, and Tim
Died: September 4, 2004 in Watsonville, CA
Previous: Member, California Agricultural Advisory Board
1966-1974: Member, Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
1992-1996: Majority Leader, California State Senate
- LEGISLATION: Author of ACR 129 (1980), which created the California Senior Legislature (CSL).
- LEGISLATION: Mello authored 726 bills, of which 456 were signed into law.
- LEGISLATION: Author with Assemblyman Mike Roos, the Community Facilities District Act (1982), which authorized local juridictions to create Community Facilities Districts to sell tax-exempt bonds to fund public improvements (with the bonds being paid off by local taxpayers). The assessments to pay for these bonds are today called "Mello-Roos Assessments".
- PLACENAME: The Mello Center at Watsonville High School was named to honor Senator Mello.
- PLACENAME: ACR 67 (2014) designated Highway 1 between the Pajaro River and Struve Road as the Senator Henry J. Mello Highway.
- In 1985, Mello was the target of an attempted recall led by Michael Bogatirev. The recall failed to qualify for the ballot.
- In 1986, Mello was the target of an attempted recall led by Michael Bogatirev, Timothy Grady, and Harry Snell. The recall failed to qualify for the ballot.
- In 1987, Mello was the target of an attempted recall by Michael Bogatirev. The recall failed to qualify for the ballot.
- NATURAL DISASTER (EARTHQUAKE): The epicenter for the Loma Prieta earthquake (a 6.9 magnitude earthquake on October 17, 1989) occurred within the districts of State Senator Henry Mello and Assemblyman Sam Farr.
Source: California Assembly Handbook (1979)