| Mel Ponder | |
| State House: | Florida |
| State: | Florida |
| District: | 4th |
| Term Start: | November 8, 2016 |
| Term End: | November 3, 2020 |
| Preceded: | Matt Gaetz |
| Successor: | Patt Maney |
| Office1: | Mayor of Destin, Florida |
| Term Start1: | 2014 |
| Term End1: | 2016 |
| Predecessor1: | Sam Seevers[1] |
| Successor1: | Scott Fischer[2] |
| Party: | Republican |
| Birth Date: | 28 May 1968 |
| Alma Mater: | Florida State University |
| Residence: | Destin |
Mel Ponder (born May 28, 1968) is an American politician. Affiliated with the Republican Party, Ponder served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 4th district between 2016 and 2020.
Ponder previously served as the mayor of Destin, Florida, from 2014 to 2016.[3] [4] On August 30, 2016, Ponder won a close and contentious five-way primary to become the Republican nominee to represent District 4 in the Florida House of Representatives.[5] Ponder was elected unopposed in the November general election.[6] He succeeded state representative Matt Gaetz, who was elected to the Florida 1st District U.S. House seat.