Henry J. Mello  Henry John Mello was an American politician from California. Mello was a member of the California Senate known for the Community Facilities District Act, otherwise known as the Mello-Roos Act. On March 27, 1924, Mello was born in Watsonville, California. Mello's father was a Portuguese immigrant. Mello attended Watsonville High School. Mello attended Hartnell College in Salinas, California. In 1940, Mello and his father started a farming business. In 1948, Mello founded Mello Packing Company. In 1966, Mello was elected to the Board of Supervisor for Santa Cruz County, California. In 1976, Mello won the election and became a member of the California State Assembly for District 28. In 1980, Mello won the election and became a member of California State Senate for District 17. Mello's wife was Helen Mello (d.2014). They had four sons, Stephen, John, Michael and Timothy Mello. On September 4, 2004, Mello died in Watsonville, California. He was 80 years old.