We have only two candidates for the Madera County District 5 worthy of our consideration. One, Melanie Barker who is unusually well qualified, and Frank Bigelow, who is moderately well qualified. Bigelow was Supervisor before, and did a mediocre job. I even voted for him when his opposition offered nothing better.
We now have a chance to go well beyond mediocre and elect an outstanding board member. Melanie Barker has a wide range of successful leadership experiences at local, state, and national levels. Locally, she has been president of the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce, the Mountain Youth Organization, and the Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors.
She was the 2024 President of the 205,000-member California Association of Realtors (CAR).
She served for 13 years as a director of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and served as the 2019 Liaison for Federal Issues and Public Policy, among other roles. She is currently a regional vice president.
Melanie was inducted into the NAR RPAC Hall of Fame in 2021.
Since we moved to District 5 in 1972, Melanie is by far the best candidate choice we have had.
— Edward Bailey,
Oakhurst