Election 2025: Melissa Merk For Newtown Township Supervisor

Candidates running in the Nov. 4 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate who submits a profile.

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Four candidates are vying for two open, six-year seats on the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors in the General Election.

The candidates - Democrats Ed Merriman and Melissa Merk and Republicans Valerie Mihalek and Todd McGonigal - have stepped forward to serve on the township's governing board.

The two winners will replace Democrats John Mack and Dennis Fisher, who are not seeking re-election and are stepping down from the board at the end of December.

Biological Information

Name: Melissa Merk
Age: 48
Town of residence: Newtown
Position sought: Newtown Township Supervisor
What Towns Does Your Position Cover: Newtown Township
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Family: Married with four children, ages 25, 23, 20 and 17
Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting from Rider University and JD from Rutgers School of Law - Camden
Occupation: Attorney

Questions

1. Why are you running for supervisor? If elected, what will you bring to the table?

I love Newtown. I graduated from Council Rock and always knew I would raise my family here. Now that I’m spending less time on our soccer and baseball fields, I am excited to give back to a community that has given me and my loved ones so much. As a lawyer of 23 years with a background in business, I come to the Board of Supervisors with a strong foundation in leadership, collaboration, budget planning and implementation, strategic thinking and problem-solving, mixed with a love of community, inclusivity, and learning through listening.

2. What are your top issues and how do you plan to address them?

As a candidate, I have had the privilege of talking to a lot of residents. My first questions always are, what concerns do you have about Newtown and how can the Board of Supervisors address them. So many of our neighbors are happy here and just want us to keep moving forward. But what does that mean? To me, that means talking to our engineers, public works team and emergency safety experts about exploring innovative ways to use technology to meet our goals in a budget-sensitive way. We need to support initiatives that make our township walkable so our residents can more easily enjoy the vibrant shopping and dining scene our community offers. I want to analyze our zoning ordinances to ensure they are aligned with public expectations while conforming with Pennsylvania law. Lastly, I want to ensure that our residents have an accessible way to gain information and that we, as a Board, actively seek input from our residents when making decisions.

3. What are your ideas for improving Newtown Township?

Newtown is already awesome, and we want it to stay that way. We want all members of our township to find their space. Newtown is and will continue to be a vibrant environment that welcomes all ages and provides a sense of community for everyone. Our younger residents should find access to safe public space and entertainment, our young professionals want affordable housing and nightlife, our families need well-maintained fields, parks and playgrounds, and our active adults should enjoy community activities and gathering options. Ensuring all the voices of Newtown are heard will keep us moving forward.