Greetings, my name's Melissa Dobbins, and I'm running for Town of Oak Creek Mayor. In my twenties, my father once told me I should get involved with local government, and back then, being young and naïve, I brushed him off. Then, with twenty-plus years of life experience and two and a half years currently serving as Town of Oak Creek Trustee, I'm learning our town's preservation, sustainability, and growth can't occur without active attention and involvement. The lessons I've learned serving as trustee have been informative and inspiring. Still, as an inclusive leader, I believe I best serve our community by dedicating myself as your Mayor, working collaboratively to ensure a thriving and united future for the Town of Oak Creek.

If elected for Mayor, critical focus areas would be economic development, affordable housing and infrastructure, transportation, public safety, continued support for South Routt Parks and Recreation, and local events. But more than that, I'm approachable and trustworthy, and I want to be a guiding voice for our community on issues that matter the most to you.

I'm running for Mayor with an open mind and cognizance of bias. I am eager to collaborate with our local businesses, schools, and medical and fire districts regarding Oak Creek's growth. Socioeconomic change requires a delicate balance, and above all, preserving Oak Creek's local, small-town way of living is critically important to me. As a resident, small business owner of South Routt Collective, and parent of a Soroco Ram, I value the authenticity of Oak Creek, which is why we choose to call it home. Our family participates in town programming and shops locally, and our favorite event of the year is the Oak Creeks Labor Day Festival.

I also have technical training that would be beneficial as Mayor should a town emergency arise. I was certified in outdoor emergency care and Cave Rescue 1 and volunteered with the Slatyfork Fire Department in West Virginia. These training opportunities and hands-on experiences focused on the systems and processes of emergency management. I'm a critical thinker and problem solver and can stay calm in conflict and stress. I assure you, I'll confidently stand by our town should an emergency arise.

I recognize the level of responsibility and trust our residents put on our town board to make the best decisions we can for our community. I come to this process with immense respect, a willingness to learn, and to hold a space for open communication with town residents and the Board of Trustees. It would be an honor to serve as the Town of Oak Creek's next Mayor; you only know what the future holds if you embrace a bit of change.