Melton for the People
Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Eddie Melton understands the issues of everyday residents because he has lived them. From his experience working in social services, to a mentor to at risk youth, to a program director for a mental health agency, Eddie has given a voice to the voiceless.
Eddie D. Melton served as Indiana Senator for District 3 which includes Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart, Merrillville, and Crown Point. Melton was born and raised in Gary. He attended Jefferson Elementary, Beckman Junior High and graduated from Horace Mann High School before earning an athletic scholarship to play quarterback for Kentucky State University. At KSU, he pursued a degree in business management and joined Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. After KSU, Eddie returned to the one place that felt like home: Gary, Indiana. He continued his education at Calumet College of St. Joseph, earning a degree in organizational management.
One of his first positions after graduating college was Community Initiative Officer for the Legacy Foundation. After Legacy Foundation, Senator Melton served as Manager of Corporate Citizen and Community Relations for NIPSCO. In addition, he was chairman of the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males, and the State Board of Education, representing the First Congressional District of Indiana.
Senator Melton has been recognized as a national leader in youth mentoring. In 2015, he worked alongside President Barack Obama’s Administration in implementing “My Brother’s Keeper,” an initiative designed to address persistent opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color.
In 2016, Melton was elected as State Senator for Indiana’s 3rd District, succeeding Senator Earline Rogers who held the office for 25 years. He won re-election in 2020. As a legislator, he has led the charge to increase teacher pay across the state and supported legislation to improve public health infrastructure. In an effort to help return his hometown of Gary back to economic vibrancy, he fought for land-based gaming, voted to fund the South Shore Double Tracking Project, and more recently, authored Senate Bill 434 establishing the Lake County Convention and Economic Development Fund to be used for the creation of a convention center in Lake County; creating the Blighted Property Demolition Fund; and providing funding to revitalize the Gary Metro Station to complement the South Shore Double Tracking project.
Eddie currently serves as Ranking Minority Member on the Appropriations and State Budget Committee and was elected by lawmakers from around the country to serve on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators. He also served as Deputy Chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party.
On May 2, 2023, Senator Eddie Melton defeated incumbent mayor Jerome Prince to win the Democratic nomination for mayor. He faced a Republican challenger in the November 7th general election and won by a landslide. Mayor-elect Melton will be sworn in Saturday, December 30, 2023. He will assume the office of Mayor of the City of Gary on January 1, 2024.
Eddie lives in Gary, Indiana with his wife Crystal and their four children.