Elms College Student Andrew L. Melendez Elected to Holyoke Public Office

CHICOPEE, MA (11/06/2009)(readMedia)-- Andrew L. Melendez, 21, a senior at Elms College, was voted into one of nine seats in the Holyoke Charter Commission. He won the popular vote out of 22 candidates.

The Charter Commission has been "elected to amend the Charter for the City of Holyoke," according to the Holyoke City Clerk. The commission will review the charter and suggest changes that voters can vote on in the next municipal election in 2011. A charter gives a city's residents the flexibility to choose any kind of government structure allowed by law.

Melendez is currently double majoring in marketing and management at Elms College, and president of the student Marketing and Management Club. He also works as the outreach director and site supervisorat the Homework House, which provides tutoring programs, and as an outreach coordinator for Project 13, a dropout prevention program, both in Holyoke.