Shannon Bares: Get to Know Your Elected Officials

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The following are Shannon Bares’ responses regarding questions asked of her by BY Local News.

“In March 2022, I was appointed as an interim Youngsville City Council Member, which impressed upon me the dedication and drive needed to work in government. I currently serve as a member of the Youngsville City Council for Division A. I was inspired to seek public office through my involvement in local organizations and owning a business in our city. As someone born and raised in Youngsville, I have seen the changes in Youngsville over the years and want to work toward our community’s continued success while still honoring its past.

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I have been involved in several local civic organizations. One organization is the Youngsville Chamber of Commerce. Through Leadership Youngsville, I gained insight into the workings of our local government and all the work required to run a city. I am the President of the Krewe des Amis, a local Mardi Gras Crew and civic organization that has existed since 1981. I’m a charter member of the Youngsville Historical Preservation Society and the Secretary/Treasurer for the Youngsville Lions Club. Along with these organizations, I have participated in the Parish Proud Day in Youngsville, am a graduate of Leadership Youngsville, Class I, and am a lector and a Eucharistic minister at St. Anne’s Catholic Church.

I have worked in banking and was an administrative assistant in the oilfield industry. After thirteen years as an admin, David and I purchased the pharmacy. We purchased Farmer’s Drugs & Gifts in 2005, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary this April. The business is 94 years old, and we are its third owner. When we purchased the store, David was working at Lourdes Hospital, and he continued to work at both jobs until 2008 when he started full-time at the pharmacy. I am the Pharmacy Manager at Farmer’s Drugs and have worked in several different roles. I have worked as a pharmacy technician, cashier, clerk, and bookkeeper, handling accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and human resources. I enjoy swimming, fishing, and boat riding in Butte La Rose with my family during my downtime. My favorite pastime is reading.

My best memories of growing up in Youngsville is its sense of community. Youngsville was still a village when I was growing up. My mother’s family was large, mostly living in the Youngsville area, and we were very close. We spent every holiday together renting the Youngsville Lions Club because our family was so large, and no one’s home was large enough to host everyone. I remember visiting my aunts, uncles, and cousins. There were no cell phones then, so calling ahead before visiting was not a thing in those days. Our parents would drink coffee around the kitchen table and visit, and the cousins would play outside. Memories of attending the Festival of Beauties, a fantastic community event with carnival rides and games. It was walking to school and to Foster Park to play ball. It was riding bikes with my best friend and walking to each other’s houses to play. It’s a community pulling together when flooding happens, helping their neighbors and friends. Those are the memories I cherish.

The growth of Youngsville has been astonishing. I think the city has taken innovative steps to improve drainage. Roundabouts throughout the City have helped the flow of increasing traffic, and repairing and upgrading utility systems like water, gas, and sewer lines helps all of us. The Youngsville Sports Complex’s success has also impacted attracting young families to our city. I feel the Mayor and City Council have done an excellent job guiding the progress of Youngsville. The city is headed in the right direction for the growth we’ve seen these past several years.

I feel my greatest accomplishment is my family. I have a wonderful husband and children who live in Youngsville. I love that we live close by and how often we get together as a family. I’m happy to have been of service to my friends and my community. Giving your time and talents keeps you aware of the needs in your community, and I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to give back. I hope I’ve given my kids a love of this city, community, and family. I want that to be my greatest accomplishment!

David and I have been married for thirty-five years and have four children: Jacob, Josh, Jonah, and Bailey. And our family will continue to grow. In two months, Bailey will marry her fiancé, Taylor. Josh recently married Macy, and they are expecting their first child. This will be our first grandchild, and everyone is very excited.”