The Hamilton County Democratic Party has appointed Melanie Brown to run for the Northwest District seat on the Carmel City Council. She will face Republican Ryan Locke in the Nov. 7 general election.

No Democrats filed to run for the seat ahead of the May primary election, but state law allows the party to fill the vacancy through a caucus process. The deadline was July 3.

Brown, a Northwest District resident for 18 years, has volunteered in several capacities in recent years at Carmel Clay Schools. With one child recently graduating and another a rising senior, she is interested in serving the community in another way.

“I was looking for ways to continue to give back, and with all the openings on the city council, I thought ‘What better way to give back than to the whole city of Carmel?’” she said.

Incumbent Republican Laura Campbell, who represents the Northwest District and has served on the council since 2016, is among six of nine city councilors not seeking reelection this year.

Brown, a consultant for a medical technology company, said her campaign will focus on transparency and ensuring Carmel residents have a voice in local government.

“I want to make sure that if someone has something they want to speak about within the district, they know they can come to me and their voice will be heard and brought to the council,” she said. “(I also want to focus on) transparency, (both) fiscal and developmental. I want to make sure the citizens know that they have a part in what’s going on in the city.”

Brown grew up in Alcoa, Tenn., and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and from Samford University with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.

In addition to her volunteer work in the schools, she has volunteered as a coach with the Carmel Dads’ Club. She has been married to her partner for 22 years. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, baking, hiking, pickleball and working out.