To all our citizens: Whether we’ve seen eye to eye or simply disagreed, my conversations with all of you, on the sidewalks of downtown, at restaurants or in grocery stores, council meetings to community auctions, are what have kept me inspired, kept me going and kept me feisty.

Every day I learned from you, every day I saw the passion our citizens have for their community, making me a better mayor with each passing year.

Our community would be at a huge loss without the numerous volunteers, from commissioners on various boards to the outreach and open hearts of human service organizations, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, business organizations, etc. You are the fabric and salt of the earth individuals that truly unite this community and create the invisible quilt that envelopes this community in comfort. All combined helps our community’s engine run.

To our Veterans: We, the American public, will always be indebted to you for giving us the abilities to live our lives with our freedom of choices because of the sacrifices you have given to your country for those freedoms.

Our constitution is a not just a piece of parchment it is a gift. It falls to each of us to be the guardians of our democracy, offering accountability. To continually try and improve upon the past. But besides all our outward differences we all share one proud name: citizen.

I am very proud and humbled to have been the first female mayor of Enumclaw and I reach out to all youth and young women. Always stand strong, believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams. If you dream it, you can do it.

You CAN accomplish great and wonderful things.

Success isn’t about what you accomplish in your life. It’s about what you do to inspire others.

Thank you all for writing this wonderful chapter of my life.