Candidate for
Council Member; City of Cypress

Mariellen has been a resident of Cypress for over 22 years. When she first moved here, she and her husband, Paul Lussman, were both full-time attorneys who worked far too many hours to enjoy Cypress or to get involved with any city activities.

During the past few years Mariellen has slowly cut back her days at work and quickly became involved in her Cypress community.

Mariellen started as a Commissioner for the Parks and Recreation Commission (2005 to 2009). Thereafter she became a Commissioner for the Cypress Senior Citizen Commission, where she has been serving since 2010. She has also been an extremely active member of The Woman's Club of Cypress, where she served on the Executive Board for 4 years and led the Club as President from 2009 - 2011. She was chosen to represent the State of California at a national Leadership conference for the General Federation of Women's Clubs in 2011. Mariellen is still very involved with the Orange District of the California Federation of Womens Club where she serves as 2nd Vice President.

From a business perspective, Mariellen has extensive experience. She is a family law attorney (a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California) who has been in private practice for over 26 years. She knows how to run a business, what it means to make ends meet, how to network and attract clients and what it takes to keep employees and the bottom line in balance. This experience has made her an asset to the Cypress Chamber of Commerce. She has been a member, and on the Board of Directors for the Chamber since 2010. Her leadership qualities were noticed and she was just installed as Chairman of the Board for the Chamber in June.

Mariellen is a member of Cypress College Presidents Club. She was also recently appointed by John Moorlach of the Orange County Board of Supervisors as a member of the Oversight Board to the Dissolved Cypress Redevelopment Agency.

In addition to being a Family Law Attorney, Mariellen has also taught, part-time, at Long Beach City College and at American College of Law, a local law school in Anaheim. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mariellen worked her way through college and went to law school at night, while she worked full-time. Mariellen attended UCLA where she earned her BA in Political Science and her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University of Law.

After passing the Bar, she dove into State Bar activities where she was appointed as a member of the L.A. Lawyers Magazine Editorial Board, a member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee, the Chairman of the LA Domestic Violence Counseling Project where she won the "Humanitarian Award", and eventually became an expert in her field. She was asked to be the Expert Commentator on Channel 2 News during the O.J. Simpson Custody Trial and also during the Barry Bonds Pre-Nuptial Agreement case.

Many of Mariellen's achievements, both in her business world and for community involvement, were recognized last year when she was recognized by the Chamber as the Cypress "Woman of the Year."

Mariellen's strong work ethic is evident. When elected to the Cypress City Council, Mariellen will put her formula for success to work as she serves the Cypress community with integrity, compassion and enthusiasm. She is a consensus builder; it is what she did for years as a Family Law attorney, which will serve Cypress well.