Meet Jennifer Massey

Candidate for Mayor

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I'm excited to share a brief glimpse into my diverse background and the key elements that I believe will equip me to effectively represent the City of St. Helens as your mayor. Let's delve into the experiences and qualities that shape my vision for our community's future.

Occupation: Safety, Health, and Environmental Administrator & Business Owner.

Community Engagement: As a current member of the City of St. Helens Budget Committee, I understand the importance of responsible fiscal management and strategic planning. I am committed to ensuring that our resources are allocated efficiently to support vital services and programs that benefit all residents.

Locally, I've been involved in various initiatives, including chairing the Scappoose Bay Advisory Council, founding the Justice for Sarah Zuber Team and Facebook page, serving as President of the Non-Profit Organization FAFODDS, directing the Columbia County volleyball club, and coaching youth sports. My commitment remains steadfast in fostering transparency and accountability within our community.

Professional Experience: Managing risk for multi-million-dollar and billion-dollar construction projects has been a significant part of my responsibilities. I've overseen projects with notable companies like Intel, TSMC, Chevron, Global Clean Energy, Lucid Motors, Samsung, Texas Instruments, Google, OSU, Legacy Emmanuel Hospital, Cascades, various Georgia Pacific locations, OHSU, ASM, Philips 66 World Energy, numerous data centers, and food and beverage facilities, among others.

Five-year Apprenticeship Steamfitter Local 290. Certification in State of Oregon Class 5 Boiler License, Claims Examiner, Management and Liability, Manufacturing, Transportation, Energy, and Construction Insurance Specialist, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, VitalCog Instructor, Industrial Hygiene, Certified Safety Professional, and others. I have also been a small business owner in two states since 2006.

 

International and Local Committees Served:

• American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

• National Building Trades (NABTU) Opioid taskforce which is North American Building  Trades

• ANSI-10 American National Standards Institute- Construction and Demolition

• HAMMER Steering Committee- This is the Department of Energy the Hazardous Materials Management and Emergency Response for Federal Training Center.

• Blue Green Alliance

• CPWR- Center For Construction Research & Training

• National Safety Advisory Council

Education: I hold degrees in Occupational Safety and Health with a concentration in Fire Science and Risk Management. I also completed a five-year apprenticeship as a Steamfitter out of Local 290. These educational opportunities have provided me with a strong foundation of knowledge and expertise to effectively address the complex issues facing our community.

About Me: My family's roots have been in St. Helens since 1928. I'm happily married to my husband Terry, and together, we have two grown daughters, Mercedes and Taylor. I also care for my 95 year-young grandmother, Betty Spady Hass. When I'm not busy with work or involved in community activities, you can often find me enjoying a peaceful run around town, unwinding by one of the picturesque waterways that grace our area, or basking in the serene beauty of the Pacific Northwest Forest Plus, I love spending time with my beloved chocolate and charcoal furbabies.

Vision for the Future: With over 24 years of professional and corporate experience, coupled with a diverse background and a proven track record of effective leadership, I have the experience it takes for Mayor. I am committed to building on our successes and addressing the challenges facing our community.

My priorities as Mayor include:

• Promote economic development through sustainable economic growth, job creation, and supporting local businesses through strategic investments and partnerships.

• Improve our infrastructure and public services to enhance the quality of life for all residents through strategic and collaborative planning.

• Effectively assist in managing city resources and be a fiscally responsible steward of taxpayer money through budgeting, prioritization, efficiency measures, performance metrics, collaboration, and long-term planning.

• Collaborate with local stakeholders and community organizations to address social issues and promote equity and justice.

• Encourage civic engagement through community involvement and participation in local government.

My Initial Plans:

My number one priority is industry and good-paying jobs to ensure financial solvency and provide appropriate infrastructure, power, and public services. My extensive experience in construction and as a business owner since 2006, along with my labor connections, significantly contribute to this goal. I want to ensure that funds are being appropriated responsibly with the utmost transparency and accountability to the citizens regarding our economic climate. Currently, I do not have confidence that this is happening, which is problematic for future planning. While I cannot promise to bring industry here, being part of one of the largest Building Trade Unions in Oregon and the United States provides me with valuable contacts and experience from some of the largest projects in the US.

I am particularly interested in the accurate details of the waterfront project, including how much money we have spent, how much we plan to spend, and why we are not utilizing developers who are efficient in their work. In my opinion, the communication and objectives regarding this project have been subpar. There needs to be clear information on what will be done, when it will be done, and the total true and accurate cost allocation. I, along with the council, will dig into these details to provide transparency to citizens. While I could claim to know the current dynamics of the waterfront and other projects based on what I have heard, I lack confidence in the provided information. I want to see the true and accurate documents, as there has been too much misinformation and provable falsehoods.

I would also like to see a full-time grant writer whose objective is to procure various grants for the city. Additionally, I believe there is a lack of access and civic engagement from our elected officials to the citizens they represent. I would encourage the council to consider quarterly town hall meetings to facilitate two-way conversations, answer questions, and cultivate ideas.

In short, I have a 60, 90, and 120-day plan that is evolving as I author this. This plan includes but is not limited to, evaluating the council's functionality for opportunities to improve constituent service, identifying necessary audits, meeting with Directors, completing overviews of current and future projects, surveying the priority importance of St. Helens' citizens, setting council industry objectives, addressing pending legal matters, conducting financial planning and infrastructure projections, future growth forecasting for both projects and staffing, and responsibly promoting tourism, plus priority items from the council members.

Your Vote Matters: As your Mayor, I will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of our community, listening to your concerns, advocating for your needs, and working collaboratively to find solutions to the issues that matter most to you. I ask for your support and your vote in the upcoming election.

 

Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant community for generations to come

I Want To Earn Your Vote!