Nancy Backus is very involved in our Auburn community. Her efforts go beyond the usual 8-to-5 schedule most of us keep. Her outreach events are a great opportunity to connect with Nancy, find out what is happening in Auburn and share any concerns you might have.

She brings other city workers (police, public works manager, etc.) with her to help answer specific questions, but I found her to be very informed about city matters herself and able to respond to all topics discussed. I have attended in the past and found it to be very informative.

Nancy also places value on recognizing people for their accomplishments. She was present for an award ceremony for my teenage daughter several years ago. She could have popped in for five minutes and left, but instead she stayed for over an hour, took the time to talk to us and offer sincere congratulations on the accomplishment. I observe Nancy attending a wide variety of ceremonies and events that honor the youth and others in our community on a consistent basis that goes above and beyond her duties as mayor. I view this as one way she “volunteers” her time to acknowledge the accomplishments of others.

Nancy is able to see the big picture and take action to put Auburn in a great position for the future. She has cultivated key partnerships to combine limited resources and help address important issues facing our community: improving public safety by adequately staffing our police department; setting up resources to help the homeless population in our city so they have the opportunity to recover and succeed in life; pursuing expansion of very limited inpatient mental health options in the state of Washington to help people trying to improve their mental health status; coordinating with surrounding cities to tackle gang-related crime; seeking grants and other ways to fund road maintenance since she knows the $5.5 million in the roads account will not go very far to accomplish what is needed.

Auburn’s population is more than 75,000 and growing. It is no longer a small bedroom community.

Nancy Backus has the vision and skill sets necessary to lead Auburn into the future. I believe her opponent will set us back at least 25 years after reviewing her election platform. Please join me next month in voting to reelect Nancy Backus as the mayor of Auburn.

– Robert Graham