Melanie Alison Mel Burke is a city councilwoman in Toledo, Ohio (the youngest in the city's history, as Mel repeatedly brags). She is also a senator's daughter. Growing up, she was a rebellious, irresponsible party girl, and now she must take care of her niece and nephew after their mother (her sister, Meredith)[20] was arrested for money laundering and their father disappeared to avoid arrest for running a Ponzi scheme.She started dating Joe in A Decent Proposal . She accepted his proposal in season 3 episode 32 Right time, right place , and they marry at the end of At Last . She runs for Congress in season 4 and learns that she and Joe are having twins.