Long-time resident wins special election

Melanie Allen

Melanie Allen

Melanie Allen, an almost two-decade resident of Aledo, claimed place 4 on the Aledo City Council after winning a special election with more than 61 percent of the vote. 

Allen beat out two other candidates, Jessica Dobbins and Kip Dernovich, on March 31 to fill the unexpired term of Nelson Rowls, who passed away in December.

Allen, who moved to Aledo in 2010 from Fort Worth, said she learned from her father the importance of serving the community. 

“I’ve been involved in various boards and volunteer work in Parker County since [moving here],” she said. “My dad was a mayor and served on city council where he lives and always taught me what it meant to be part of a community.”

An assistant vice president and business development officer for PlainsCapital Bank, Allen said she is most excited about being able to help Aledo navigate the growth it is experiencing.

“I love Aledo,” she said. “My daughter can walk from her middle school to church a couple blocks away and be safe; where else can you do that?”

She admitted, however, that the challenge is that growth leads to misinformation or, worse, the lack of information altogether. 

“Growth is inevitable and not being informed or knowledgeable about what is happening and why, can lead to misunderstanding,” she said. 

Allen has been married for 15 years and has two children who attend Aledo schools. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in kinesiology and said she has lived all over the Metroplex over the years. 

In addition to serving the community, Allen said between running her children to softball and basketball practices and games, she is an avid runner who has participated in many marathons. One of her favorites has been the Boston Marathon, which she has done twice, one being the year after the 2013 bombing that happened there. 

“It was a core memory for me,” she admitted. 

In a Facebook post on April 1, Aledo Mayor Shane Davis congratulated Allen along with the other candidates who ran a “clean and positive” race. 

“May you serve with integrity and do great works for the City of Aledo,” he said. 

Allen said what drew her to Aledo in the first place was the schools but that what keeps her there is the closeness of the people. 

“I’ve seen firsthand what makes this community so special,” she said. “We help each other.”

Allen will be officially sworn in on May 7.