Sen. Mello brings youthful perspective to the Legislature
Above: Sen. Mello and then-fiancee Catherine Leo take in an outdoor event in Omaha’s Heartland Park.
Sen. Heath Mello describes himself as a scrappy basketball player. The kind of player who hustles, works hard to learn the fundamentals, stays late at practice and goes the extra mile. It’s not just about natural ability, Mello said; it’s about dedication and heart.
After spending time with Mello, one suspects that scrappy also might describe his approach to lawmaking. The key, he said, is to work hard and do the basic things well. The end result may not be the limelight, but others will recognize your contribution.
“You don’t get the glory, but others want you on the team,” he said.
It’s a mindset that Mello learned from his hard-working parents while growing up in the Omaha area. He said his father was a machinist and union man, his mother a self-described “blue collar” worker.
His parents were working-class Democrats, but the nonpartisan spirit that Mello has encountered at the Unicameral was the rule in his parent’s house as well. Mello described a dinner conversation when he was seven- or eight-years-old, during which he expressed admiration for President Reagan.
“My dad managed to find something positive to say,” Mello laughed. “He didn’t want to discourage my interest in politics, so he acknowledged that Reagan was a good public speaker.”
Mello’s political inspirations come from both the state and national stages, and he said two men in particular exemplify approaches to politics that he greatly admires: Robert Kennedy and Ben Nelson.
“Kennedy was a man who had an expansive vision of what government could do and should do,” Mello said. “He had an idealism that was incredibly inspiring.”
Mello was lucky enough to work closely with his other inspiration, serving as a senior aid to U.S. Senator Ben Nelson. Mello said Nelson exemplifies a more down-to-earth approach to politics.
“He’s pragmatic and solution oriented,” Mello said. “It’s not the glamorous side of politics, but it’s just as important, if not more so.”
And Mello has learned a few things about the unglamorous side of being in the Legislature – among them, time management skills. Finding time for his fiancé, church and other volunteer community service, keeping up with a number of books, newspapers and blogs and maintaining constituent connections has been challenging. But it’s a challenge Mello embraces.
“The more time you spend with people, the better able you are to represent them,” Mello said. “It’s all part of the balance that public life requires.”
At 29, Mello narrowly missed out on the distinction of being the youngest member of this session’s freshman class. He said he was concerned initially about facing an uphill battle with voters due to his age, but was pleasantly surprised.
“The campaign proved that my constituents weren’t concerned about my age,” Mello said. “The campaign was less about age and more about the perspective that one brings.”
And Mello is excited about the perspective the entire new class of senators brings to the Unicameral; it’s one of the reasons that he decided to run for a seat.
“It seemed like a good time for new ideas,” Mello said. “It’s an opportunity for the next generation to bring a new voice to the state’s problems.”