Tacoma City Councilmember Ryan Mello announced today he will run to retain his at-large seat on City Council. Mello was first appointed to fill a vacant position in January 2010. Previously Mello was elected city-wide to the Tacoma Metro Parks Board in 2005. Mello’s Campaign Kick Off event will be held April 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, in Tacoma. According to a statement released today by Mello’s campaign, he has received endorsements from the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors, Tacoma Firefighters, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland. Mello currently serves as Vice Chair on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and is a member of the Government Performance and Finance Committee and Public Safety, Human Services and Education Committee. He is also a member of the Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board, the United Way of Pierce County Community Safety Net Committee, the Community Council of Tacoma, and is the founding chair of the Pierce County Sustainability Coalition. Mello graduated from the University of Puget Sound. He currently works as the Pierce County Director for the Cascade Land Conservancy. Mello and his partner Jerry live in central Tacoma. For more information, visit http://www.ryanmello.com .