Name: Karen G. Yankus

Position: Democratic candidate for Douglas County coroner

Age: 60

My family: Husband Anthony, daughter Melissa Piccone, son Damon Piccone
andthree grandchildren.

What I do: Registered nurse. I work as an infusion nurse at Littleton Adventist Hospital. I have been a nurse for 40 years and worked in many areas of nursing including management.

My favorite place in Douglas County to hang out: Town Center in Highlands Ranch.

What I like most about living here: Feeling safe in the community, weather, beauty of the surroundings, friendliness of the people living here andcloseness to Denver.

My interests and hobbies: reading, gardening, walking and biking.

What is my favorite thing to cook: Dessert

People who inspired me: The first person in my life to inspire me was my father, he taught me about the life around me and never showed any prejudice or bias against other people. When I was a teen I wanted to become a nurse and work with Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa. Dr. Albert Schweitzer was a man who was a theologist, philosopher and a physician. He had a "reverence for life" and he treated thousands of people in Gambon Africa.

Unfortunately, he died the year I graduated from nursing school so I never got to work with him. In nursing school my instructors inspired me to become not only a good nurse but a good person too. Over the years I have met many people who have inspired me, none famous, just people who were honest hardworking people who knew where they were going in life and gave me the incentive to follow my dreams too.

How I have contributed to the community: I have worked at Littleton Hospital for 6 years as a nurse and I am an advocate for all the patients I come to meet and care for. I have attended a suicide intervention program and would like to help in getting more education about suicide into Douglas county.

What are the biggest issues facing Douglas County now: For me, running for coroner, the biggest issue is education of the public, teachers, councilors and first responders in suicide prevention.

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