Registrar of Voters

Running for Office of:

Incline Village Justice of the Peace

First name:

Melissa

Last name:

Mangiaracina

To be seen on Ballot:

Mangiaracina, Melissa

Address:

885 Tahoe Blvd., #C-5

City:

Incline Village

State:

NV

Zip:

89451

Email address:

Phone:

(775) 432-0868

Website:

Formal Education:

I have a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. I graduated from law school with honors and received the Melanie Hardaway award for Academic Excellence for having the highest GPA in my class after the first year of law school. I also have formal training as a Settlement Judge, Mediator, Arbitrator, and Administrative Hearing Officer.

Current Occupation:

I am a Settlement Judge and Mediator for the Nevada Supreme Court, the Second Judicial District Court and the Ninth Judicial District Court of Nevada. I also mediate child protection cases for the State of Nevada and sit as a Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Justice Court.

Government Background:

I have worked for the Federal Government as a Peace Corps Volunteer, a Resource and Writing Specialist for the Federal Public Defender, and a Judicial Clerk for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. I have also worked for our local government, serving as a Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore in Incline Village for the past ten years.

Reason for seeking position:

I first discovered Incline Village while on a road trip in 1998. I had just returned from working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic and instantly fell in love with Lake Tahoe. I moved to Incline Village one month later, taking a job as the Youth Activities Coordinator for the Children's Cabinet in its Incline Village office. I quickly realized that I could do more to help our community by going to law school, so I accepted a public interest scholarship to the University of Denver College of Law. I moved to Denver in 2000, where I completed law school and a judicial clerkship for the United States Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. I returned to Incline in 2004 with my husband, Mike.

I have dedicated my life and legal career to serving my community and helping others. As an attorney, I represented children in the custody of social services, low-income individuals, and victims of domestic violence throughout Washoe County and rural Nevada. I have also served as the Directing Attorney of the Senior Law Project for Washoe County and as a Staff Attorney and Senior Policy Analyst for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.

Over the past ten years, I shifted my role from that of an advocate to that of a neutral and legal educator. I currently work as a Settlement Judge and Mediator for the Nevada Supreme Court. I also mediate cases for the Washoe and Douglas County courts and through my Incline-based business, Sierra Mediation, LLC. I have served as a Justice of the Peace Pro Tempore in the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Justice Court since 2013. In addition to my legal and judicial work, I train judges and legal professionals through my other Incline-based business, the Mediator Training Center, LLC.

My husband and I live in Incline Village full time with our two amazing children. We are also fortunate to have our parents in Incline Village full time. Because our family represents three distinct generations, I understand the challenges that face the different populations in our community. I am incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to live near to those that are dearest to me in such a special place. If elected, I will continue to do my part to keep our area safe and peaceful for my children, my parents, and our entire community.

To learn more about me and my qualifications or to help with my campaign, please visit my website at www.melissaforjp.com.

Judicial Office Questionnaire: