I am writing to express my support for Melissa Youssef for City Council.
I have known Melissa since she and her family moved to Durango almost 20 years ago. Since that time, she has been an active volunteer in the community. In fact, I can think of no other person who has run for city council who has done more than Melissa has in terms of being prepared for the position.
Melissa already knows so much about what is going on in Durango via the various boards and committees she has either headed up or been a part of over the years. The Parks and Forestry Board, Trails 2000 Board President, Animas High School Board President, and Airport Expansion campaign committee come to mind as positions she has held recently.
To prepare for the role of city council candidate, Melissa has recently started a blog : “Your Front Row Seat,” where she has worked to gather information, feedback and opinions from our community regarding issues affecting us all.
To illustrate the work she has put into this blog, Melissa interviewed experts representing both sides of the organic parks issue. I found this to be more informative than what even The Durango Herald was printing about this at the time.
Melissa then sought out opinions on this from the people reading the blog. This is the kind of research, collaboration and thinking I want from my city council representative. Melissa Youssef does her homework, is a listener, and deserves to represent us on the Durango City Council.
Mary Oswald
Durango
