I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to the voters of Clearlake for electing me to a second term as city clerk.

I have worked for the city for almost five years, starting as office assistant and deputy city clerk, and was promoted to administrative assistant in 2006. I ran as a write-in candidate for city clerk that same year.

As city clerk, I am the elections official, the public records custodian, the political reform filing officer, and provide support for the city council. I make sure the democratic process is followed as compliance officer for the Brown Act, the Political Reform Act and the Public Records Act.

The city clerk also manages public inquiries and arranges ceremonial and official functions for the council and the city.

In 2008, I received the City Clerks Association of California’s Humanitarian Award and congressional recognition for my volunteer work in our community. I have been a member of the CCAC for four years, and a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks for three years.

In addition to my full-time position with the city, I am also a full-time student. In March, I will graduate with my bachelor of science degree in public administration.

My family has lived in Lake County since 1986. Three generations of my family live in Clearlake today. I attended Oak Hill Middle School and graduated from Lower Lake High School almost 20 years ago.

Like many of my generation, I moved away to attend college. I met my husband in college 16 years ago, and we raised our young family for a few years in the Sacramento Valley.

However, we wanted to raise our little boys in a better environment with the small town feeling that we were missing. When an opportunity came, we moved to Clearlake six years ago. We are raising our three children – ages 15, 12 and 3 – to have a sense of pride in their community and the beauty that surrounds them.

I look forward to serving the citizens of my hometown for another four years as city clerk.

Melissa Swanson lives in Clearlake, Calif.