SD15 Chair Melissa Taldykin speaker at January 2024 meeting

Do you want to understand the workings of the Democratic Party in Texas from the Texas Democrat Party level, through the Harris County Democratic Party, down to the precinct chair level? Then join the West University Area Democrats at our January 8, 2024 meeting as we host Melissa Taldykin as our speaker.

Melissa Taldykin is the outgoing Senate District 15 (“SD15”) Chair as redistricting has caused the Democratic Party in Texas to be organized around Congressional Districts, as opposed to Senate Districts, starting in 2024.  Melissa was elected to her position as SD 15 Chair in June of 2022.  Disappointed with the state of political discourse and regression in national social policy, she was looking to engage with voters on a wider level as a senate district chair.

She also currently serves as a precinct chair for the Southdale area in Bellaire. She joined the HCDP in this capacity in 2021 after getting involved in the midterm elections of 2018. While she has always been interested in public policy and politics, the midterm elections of 2018 prompted her to become more active in politics on a national, state and local level as she started out as a deputy voter registrar.

Melissa is excited to deepen her connection with Houston voters as a precinct chair in Bellaire and has become actively involved in judging elections the past couple of years.  While not native to Texas, Melissa has lived in Houston since 2004 and has worked in communications and energy policy. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Houston in 2013 and holds an undergraduate degree in international history from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

Please join us before the meeting:

Social time with refreshments 6:30 - 7 pm

Meeting 7 - 8 pm