On Friday, June 14, the City of Auburn will be celebrating its 122th birthday with a party on Main Street. That’s exciting.

And I’m excited about another celebration – of Nancy Backus as our first woman mayor.

I’ve known Nancy Backus since she was my grocery bag person at the Piggly Wiggly store before the MIT Casino was established. Wow, has she come a long way.

She was a dedicated and outstanding Auburn High School student, went on to acquire her college degree, became a wife and mother and a devoted community volunteer over all these years.

Nancy has worked at The Boeing Co. for more than 20 years, rising up the management ladder in finance, a field that truly prepares her for the position as mayor. She has had more than 10 years of City Council, regional and national committee experience. Nancy will bring all this acquired knowledge to the office of mayor.

In response to John Pinsker’s letter to the editor on May 31, inferring that Nancy is an “obedient deputy mayor” and isn’t her own person, that claim is untrue. I can assure everyone that Nancy Backus is her own highly intelligent, experienced and decision-making councilmember – and definitely her “own person.”

Nancy has the ability to listen to our citizens and obtain win-win solutions. I was impressed when I first met Nancy at Piggly Wiggly, and my admiration for her intelligence and abilities has only increased over the years.

Please join me in voting for and electing our first woman mayor, Nancy Backus.

– Joyce Peloza