I’m Jessie Carver, and I’m running for Chehalis City Council, Position 3. I am a native of Western Washington, and I grew up in Puyallup.
In December 2022, I moved to Chehalis with my husband and our son. Our family is part of the community: we do Cub Scouts, Little League and Chehalis PTO. Our family is an active part of our local church. Just like you, I want to make Chehalis a desirable city for the next generation.
My reasons for running for Chehalis City Council are simple: as a parent, a retired attorney and someone who has a physical disability, I bring a fresh perspective to the city council. These perspectives enable me to better understand and advocate for the needs and wants of Chehalis residents. My opponent has been part of Chehalis City Council for over 30 years. I understand the challenges facing Chehalis residents today. This includes working families, older adults and young folks just getting started in Chehalis.
I have over 10 years working as an attorney in the social services sector. I’ve represented hundreds of seniors, veterans and people with disabilities. I have represented clients at all stages from administrative hearings to Federal District Court. I know how to advocate for individuals and I will advocate for you. I will advocate for your family.
I have experience as a community organizer. I know how to bring people together: I can work with community partners and elected officials to get things done. I’m about finding common ground to get results.
My priorities are threefold: develop a better city budget, address the challenges of homelessness, and work to maintain our city parks. We need a responsible and fiscally sound city budget. If we want to keep our city solvent and healthy for years to come, we need a budget that can handle recent inflation. The budget needs to have revenue growth and development. I will propose a discussion of city zoning rules and permitting processes to find barriers to development in the city. I want to make Chehalis a place where the next generation can return to raise their family.
We need to proactively address homelessness in Chehalis. This means we need to evaluate and understand the hows and whys of homelessness. I want to support our community partners as they find ways to meet the needs of unhoused individuals. I will make sure local programs are accountable for meeting the needs of the people they serve.
Jessie Carver
Chehalis City Council candidate
