Melissa worked tirelessly in local and state government, protecting the environment, saving land for public use and bravely protesting to give voice to the voiceless. Here are some of the ways Melissa worked, lived and persisted. Thank you, friends for sharing. Keep sending photos and links.
In 2007, Melissa served as treasurer of the newly formed A Better Haddam (ABH), non-partisan political party working to empower Haddam’s residents outside of the traditional two party system. ABH encouraged residents to be involved in town government. They provided access to the political structure for non-affiliated voters and members of formal political parties by running candidates for political office and submitting names for appointed boards and commissions.
Melissa ran in the 2012 election for Connecticut State Senate District 33. Schlag ran as a Green Party candidate. She faced James Crawford (D) and was defeated by Art Linares (R) in the general election on November 6, 2012. She did quite well in her first race, especially running as a third party, garnering 8.7% of the the 49,483 votes.
Stop the Swap
STOP the SWAP: The proposal to swap 17.4 acres of state land near the Connecticut River in Tylerville for 87 acres in Higganum, and to allow private development on the state land, became a highly charged topic in 2011 that swept through Haddam, the state and even got international press. But the deal died in April 2012 when lawyers for the developers notified the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that they “will not be pursuing the transaction” due to a large discrepancy in the market values of the properties involved. Read more on the issue.
Quoted in this Patch article, Melissa said, “It is the culmination of so many efforts that led us to this result,” she said in that statement. “Preservation, perseverance and principle were always the three components of the fight to keep our land. Haddam’s future is now back in the hands of Haddam residents where it belongs, not just a single developer or legislator.”
Photo 1: Melissa speaking at a community meeting against the swap. Photo 2: She led many rallies at Eagle Landing State Park. Photo 3: Melissa, third in from right, stands with others as Governor Dannel Malloy signed the bill to Stop the Swap! The bill would eventually be approved by voters to change the state constitution. It now requires that before land is transferred: 1. A public hearing on bills to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of state owned properties such as state parks, forest, conserved lands, to non-state entities; and 2. It requires a two-thirds vote of the Connecticut General Assembly to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of land under the control of the state agriculture or environmental protection departments. Thank you, M!
Melissa ran for First Selectman of Haddam in 2013 and serve to 2015. During her term she diligently represented and worked for her constituents in Haddam at in Hartford for the greater good of our region. She’s being sworn in by then Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, with her niece Ella to her left and nephew Jack to her right.
2013-2015.
Photo 1: Melissa spend many hours in Hartford speaking on behalf of Haddam residents, notably for the Education Cost Sharing allocations. Photo 2: Presenting a Haddam jar to Governor Dannel Malloy. Photo 3: She was instrumental in securing funding to remove hazardous waste from Higganum Cove. Representative Joe Courtney and Senator Richard Blumenthal at ribbon cutting ceremony in 2015.
Back in June 2014, neighbors, townspeople and political leaders gathered for the initial hike to see for themselves why this 43 acre forest needed to be preserved and added to the Cockaponset forest system. We wouldn’t have been able to preserve the Kuiaski Woods in 2016 if it wasn’t for Missy. While she served as Haddam First Selectwoman, she used her position and understanding of the conservation process to help us meet with the right people and rally enough support to save these woods for all to enjoy.
Melissa became chair of the Haddam Democratic Town Committee in 2016 and served until her passing. The HDTC grew in membership and energy under her leadership.
Melissa served as a Selectman on Haddam’s Board of Selectmen from 2017 to 2019. She worked with great persistence to make sure all proceedings were properly followed and accurate information was available to every citizen.
Her Greatest, Most Persistent Protest
In what could arguably be her most courageous act of protest, Melissa bravely knelt during the Pledge of Allegiance as she served as a Selectman. She was the subject of much local, national and international news, scrutiny and threats, yet she persisted! Here is a comprehensive post CONNECTICUT SELECTWOMAN KNEELS DURING PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO PROTEST TRUMP in The Free Speech Tracker. The Free Speech Tracker is an online tool for monitoring Free Speech challenges and controversies across the United States in education, civil society, and government. I believe this repository houses a thorough, accurate, historical explanation and collection data of Melissa’s heroic activism.
Climate Advocate at Save the Sound CT
Melissa worked as a climate advocate Save the Sound CT until her passing. She was responsible for implementing the youth engagement effort, communications support for the climate program, engaging in community and legislative education and outreach efforts, and supporting all elements of the climate program. While there, Melissa created this video lesson on how we can all re-use common single-use items.
Support the Melissa J. Schlag Good Citizenship Education Award Scholarship at Community Foundation of Middlesex County
Friends of Melissa Schlag 