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Jonathan holds a bachelor's degree in political science from North Carolina State University and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. He is married to his husband, Stephan. 

Jonathan currently works as a partner at the family law firm of Gailor Hunt Davis Taylor & Gibbs, PLLC. 

Jonathan Lambert-Melton currently serves as a member of the Raleigh City Council. He was elected to this position in 2019 and is serving his 2nd term. He also serves as Mayor Pro Tem of Raleigh. He is the chairperson of the City Council’s Economic Development and Innovation Committee. He is the am the 1st openly LGBTQIA+ person elected citywide in Raleigh. 

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As a City Council member, he led initiatives for equal fares for public transit, establishing an eviction assistance clinic for low-income residents; and enacting a nondiscrimination ordinance to prevent discrimination for residents and visitors in private employment and public accommodations.

Supported efforts to establish Raleigh's Community Climate Action Plan, including mandating EV charging in new multifamily developments, requiring pedestrian connections in new developments even if a full road connection isn't required, and prohibiting any new drive-thru's downtown and in other pedestrian areas.

Supports establishing a Community Engagement Board and a Community Engagement Bus to reach underrepresented communities.

Supports establishing a Community Engagement Board and Bus to help reach underrepresented communities and help provide them greater access to local resources and community centers. 

Plans to hold monthly community office hours to engage in informal conversations with residents.

Plans to hold monthly community office hours to engage with residents. 

Believes community engagement should be an action embedded in all processes, not just limited to in-person meetings.

Believes community engagement should be "an action embedded in all processes..." not somewhere people "had to go to engage."

Believes local races are important and plans to work to increase voter turnout.

Believes local races are important and don't receive enough attention, saying "voter turnout is lower than state and national races."

Advocates for enhanced city worker and first responder support through increased pay and benefits.

Advocates for more support for city workers and first responders, including increasing pay and more benefits.

Supports environmental conservation efforts.

- As a City Council member, he led initiatives for equal fares for public transit, establishing an eviction assistance clinic for low-income residents; and enacting a nondiscrimination ordinance to prevent discrimination for residents and visitors in private employment and public accommodations.
- Supported efforts to establish Raleigh's Community Climate Action Plan, including mandating EV charging in new multifamily developments, requiring pedestrian connections in new developments even if a full road connection isn't required, and prohibiting any new drive-thru's downtown and in other pedestrian areas.
- Supports establishing a Community Engagement Board and Bus to help reach underrepresented communities and help provide them greater access to local resources and community centers. 
- Plans to hold monthly community office hours to engage with residents. 
- Believes community engagement should be "an action embedded in all processes..." not somewhere people "had to go to engage."
- Believes local races are important and don't receive enough attention, saying "voter turnout is lower than state and national races."
- Advocates for more support for city workers and first responders, including increasing pay and more benefits.
- Supports environmental conservation efforts.
- Wants to address social inequalities.

Public Services

As a City Council member, led initiatives to establish a police advisory board.

As a City Council member, he led initiatives to request oversight capabilities for the police advisory board. 

Supports raises and benefits for police and firefighters to retain local talent.

Requested education pay incentives for all public safety employees.

Requested to the City Manager, that education pay incentives are established for public safety employees.

Supports increasing salaries and numbers of first responders.

Believes addressing public safety issues requires a comprehensive approach, including improving housing for the unsheltered, enhancing overall housing affordability, and providing support for first responders.

Wants to address housing for homeless populations, improve housing affordability, and ensure first responders are supported. 

Wants more support for police officers and to foster an accountable culture.

- As a City Council member, he led initiatives to request oversight capabilities for the police advisory board. 
- Supports raises and benefits for police and firefighters to retain local talent.
- Requested to the City Manager, that education pay incentives are established for public safety employees.
- Supports increasing salaries and numbers of first responders.
- Wants to address housing for homeless populations, improve housing affordability, and ensure first responders are supported. 
- Wants more support for police officers and to foster an accountable culture.

Public Safety

As a city leader, led efforts to include renters in required notice of city business and to make it easier to address the City Council at our meetings.

As a city council member, he led efforts to include renters in those notified of city business so they could more easily address the City Council. 

Supports efforts to reduce housing costs.

Supports worker's rights and wants them to recieve "livable" wages. 

Supports pay and benefit adjustments to align with regional labor and economic changes.

Wants to adjust pay and benefits for city workers to match new labor and economic dynamics in the region.

- As a city council member, he led efforts to include renters in those notified of city business so they could more easily address the City Council. 
- Supports worker's rights and wants them to recieve "livable" wages. 
- Wants to adjust pay and benefits for city workers to match new labor and economic dynamics in the region.

Economy

Supported increasing pay for educators during the previous fiscal year.

- Supported increasing pay for educators during the previous fiscal year.

Education

Supports increasing housing affordability in Raleigh. 

As a city council member, removed the ban on short-term rentals and created new guidelines for their use.

As a city council member,  he supported removing a ban on short-term rentals and developing new guidelines for their use.

As a City Council member, supported efforts to provide over 5,500 affordable housing units by 2026 and voted to eliminate parking minimums and establish parking maximums to promote affordability and resilience.

As a City Council member, he supported efforts to provide over 5,500 affordable housing units by 2026 and voted to eliminate parking minimums and establish parking maximums to promote affordability and resilience.

Wants to focus on dense and new mixed used buildings when planning new development through "community gardens and produce stands, farmer’s markets in city parks, and allowing accessory commercial units (ACUs) and neighborhood markets."

- Supports increasing housing affordability in Raleigh. 
- As a city council member,  he supported removing a ban on short-term rentals and developing new guidelines for their use.
- As a City Council member, he supported efforts to provide over 5,500 affordable housing units by 2026 and voted to eliminate parking minimums and establish parking maximums to promote affordability and resilience.
- Wants to focus on dense and new mixed used buildings when planning new development through "community gardens and produce stands, farmer’s markets in city parks, and allowing accessory commercial units (ACUs) and neighborhood markets."

Housing & Urban Development

Supports building multi-use paths for non-car users.

Supports road widenings when there is significant public support and the project has been promised for years, but personally does not love the idea of road widenings, believing that "induced demand is a real problem, and adding lanes typically doesn't help reduce traffic."

Opposes road widening, believing that "adding lanes typically doesn't help reduce traffic."

Believes public transit should be safe and accessible to all, especially those who rely on it most.

Believes public transit should be safe and widely accessible, especially for those who rely on it most.

Supports reducing car-dependency by creating an e-bike incentive program, funding sidewalks and bike lanes, increasing transit options, and allowing micromobility providers to operate in the city.

Advocates for reducing car dependency and developing an e-bike incentive program, funding sidewalks and bike lanes, increasing transit options, and allowing micro-mobility providers to operate in the city.

Wants the city to increase its business efficiency, especially for construction and permitting.

- Supports building multi-use paths for non-car users.
- Opposes road widening, believing that "adding lanes typically doesn't help reduce traffic."
- Believes public transit should be safe and widely accessible, especially for those who rely on it most.
- Advocates for reducing car dependency and developing an e-bike incentive program, funding sidewalks and bike lanes, increasing transit options, and allowing micro-mobility providers to operate in the city.
- Wants the city to increase its business efficiency, especially for construction and permitting.

Transportation & Infrastructure

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Jonathan Lambert-Melton

Supports local education by authorizing a 4-year agreement with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association to host high school championships in Raleigh and Wake County.

Supports a 4-year agreement with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association to host high school championships in Raleigh and Wake County.

Supports development projects that preserve historic buildings and replace parking lots with new construction.

Supports affordable housing and parking reform.

Supports innovative housing solutions, such as a pilot program to move 40 unsheltered households into permanent housing by providing housing assistance payments directly to them.

Supports increasing housing supply, including affordable housing, through zoning reform, incentives, and subsidies.

Supports providing direct financial assistance to unsheltered individuals, having initiated a pilot program that allocated approximately $2 million in funds.

Supports upzoning parcels along the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) corridor to facilitate taller, denser housing, including affordable housing with density bonuses.

Supports developing vacant, underutilized, and commercial areas for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), while avoiding sensitive, historic housing areas.

Believes affordable housing is essential for community stability and economic growth. Plans to address housing affordability in Raleigh.

Supports "smart growth" policies that integrate housing and transit planning to reduce urban sprawl and promote sustainable development.

As a City Council member, approved a text change to expand live-work opportunities, allowing them in accessory structures and streamlining the process.

Supports zoning reforms and leveraging city-owned land to produce affordable housing, resulting in 27 units in Southeast Raleigh.

As City Council member, approved over $2 million for Milner Commons, a multifamily affordable housing project providing 150 affordable senior apartments.

Supports developing a permanent fare-free and fare-capping program for transit.

Supports mobile boarding technology to ease fare collection. Plans to implement fare capping and free or reduced fares for cost-burdened users.

Supports fare collection on public transportation.

Supports the construction of paths along Bus Rapid Transit routes.

Supports using federal funding for local infrastructure projects, such as the $3 million strollway connecting Chavis Park to Dix Park.

Supports micromobility and led efforts to create an e-bike incentive program.

Supports the Six Forks Road Improvement Project, which aims to enhance transportation infrastructure with a 6-lane street, median, sidewalks, and protected bike lanes. Despite rising costs from $46 million to $120 million, believes in prioritizing community engagement and corridor planning.

Supports the development of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes, including the New Bern Avenue route, and the application of the Transit Overlay District to encourage transit-supportive development while excluding sensitive areas like historic properties and Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Districts from such mandates.

Believes bus rapid transit (BRT) will not succeed without denser and affordable housing, retail, and services along the route.

Supports the establishment of social districts, which are defined outdoor areas where people can consume alcoholic beverages. As a member of the city council, supported a pilot program for a social district that received positive feedback and was made permanent with expanded boundaries and hours.

Supports improving bus stop infrastructure by installing shelters at stops with 10 daily boardings or near essential services. Plans to construct 127 shelters in the upcoming year, up from 15 in 2021.

As of August 21, 2024, Jonathan Lambert-Melton’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jonathan Lambert-Melton is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in family law and a partner at the law firm of Gailor Hunt Davis Taylor & Gibbs, PLLC. He exclusively practices family law.

Jonathan Lambert-Melton was elected as an at-large member of Raleigh City Council in 2019 and re-elected in 2022. He presently serves as Mayor Pro Tem of Raleigh and is the chair of the City Council’s Economic Development and Innovation Committee.

Supports the expansion of parks and greenways through the approved parks bond.

Supports seeking additional public feedback before making decisions on public services.

Supports the creation of the Office of Community Engagement and a new Community Engagement Board to improve community engagement policies and practices.

Supports updating and revising public service ordinances, such as noise and amplified sound permits, to address community concerns and improve enforceability.

Supports the creation of a Community Engagement Board.

Supports the creation of a Community Engagement Board to improve access.

As a City Council member, voted to make the pilot social district permanent, expanding its boundaries and hours of operation.

As a City Council member, supported the creation of the "Sip n' Stroll Downtown" social district, benefiting over 70 local businesses.

Believes in diversifying decision-making by selecting younger, renter nominees with no prior city board experience.

Supports community engagement by allowing city council members and city staff to nominate individuals for community programs.

Supports enhancing community engagement by including renters in city notices, funding a Community Engagement Office and Bus, and allowing remote public comments at City Council meetings.

Supports implementing an alternative response program for public safety in Raleigh.

Supports the Vision Zero program, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and injuries.

Supports funding for social worker positions in the Raleigh Police Department to connect individuals in crisis with resources.

Supports the Police Department's ACORNS initiative (Addressing Crises through Outreach, Referrals, Networking, and Service) to connect individuals in crisis with resources, saying "Since August 2021, they've made 546 contacts with individuals needing assistance."

Supports the establishment of a Community Response Team that operates independently from the Raleigh Police Department.

Believes the four years of fare-free bus operation has led to "unintended negative consequences affecting user and operator safety."

Believes that violation should be classified as a misdemeanor.

As a City Council member, passed an ordinance prohibiting public space harassment.

As an attorney, helped create a program that provides pro bono legal assistance to families involved in domestic violence actions in Wake County District Court.

Supports fare-free transit, nearly $33 million for affordable housing, $150k in grant funding for an e-bike incentive program, and pay increases for school crossing guards and public safety employees.

Believes the budget does not include a "general" tax increase, with the only tax increase being the $275 million parks bond approved by voters.

Supports agreements that boost local economy, such as a 4-year deal with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association expected to generate $3.2 million and attract over 40,000 visitors to Raleigh and Wake County annually.

Believes addressing the transit budget deficit is crucial for economic development and job creation.

Supports adjusting the project scope and gathering public feedback to manage costs effectively.

Supports adjusting project scopes to meet budgets and timelines, ensuring local communities have "certainty" in infrastructure development.

Supports requiring federal funds for infrastructure projects to be obligated by 2025 and spent by 2030.

Serves as chair of the Economic Development and Innovation Committee.

As a city council member, approved revisions to noise and amplified sound permits to address resident concerns while supporting small businesses.

Believes in collaborating with city staff and event organizers to find compromise solutions, as demonstrated by working to resolve permit issues for the Christmas Parade.

Supports fiscal responsibility and timely budget approval.

Supports the city manager and her staff being responsible for administrative decisions, like parade permits, without the City Council being included in these decisions.

- City council members work together to set and implement city policy. 
- The city council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city.
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 

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City Council Member

Jonathan Lambert-Melton currently serves as a member of the Raleigh City Council. He was elected to this position in 2019 and is serving his 2nd term. He also serves as Mayor Pro Tem of Raleigh. He is the chairperson of the City Council’s Economic Development and Innovation Committee. He is the first openly LGBTQIA+ person elected citywide in Raleigh. 