Welcome to my campaign page! My name is Jerry Toompas and I’m running for Yelm City Council Position #2.
I am a lifelong resident and proud citizen of Yelm who would like to make a difference for the city that I love. I took the City of Yelm for granted in my youth, and after graduating from Eastern Washington University I longed for the community feel of Yelm again. I feel that Yelm is the perfect place to raise a family and I would like to continue to support our beautiful, strong, and family oriented city that feels safe and welcoming to all.
I have had an interesting journey that has given me a lot of valuable tools that I can use to support Yelm:
First, I am an entrepreneur and began my first business when I was 13 years old selling online advertising and making websites. I continued to sell domain names and make websites until my early 30’s. This experience helped me learn valuable marketing skills and general business acumen. I was very successful and was able to support my family for several years before entering a new career field.
My second career began during college when I was able to work as an insurance agent then a sales manager for Comcast. I spent 10 years working in sales and corporate settings which helped me hone my skills as a communicator and consumer advocate.
Third, I have a Bachelors of Business Management, a Minor in Government, and a Masters in Business Administration that has given me knowledge and tools that are relevant to assisting administering a city government.
Finally, as a father to several children with special needs, I decided to change my career. After earning my Bachelors in Special Education, I began working for Yelm Community Schools first at Yelm High School and now at Prairie Elementary.
My biggest priority, and the reason that I am applying for this position, is that I love Yelm and I want to see it continue being a safe and family friendly city. I want to encourage Yelm to continue to build and maintain parks, community spaces, and family activities, while also preventing crime and negativity. I want families to be excited to live in Yelm, and continue to be proud to be a part of this great city.
I am a unique person because I am very analytical and am not swayed by emotion or anecdotal facts. I love numbers, proven facts, and can make choices made by sound judgment and common sense. I understand the powers of the position on the council and will uphold city, state, and federal laws instead of speaking or acting out with emotion. I can find balanced positions and can compromise as needed for the good of the city without just advocating for my own personal needs or biases. I understand that I will be a representative of my constituents and I will fight for the wants and needs of all citizens. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Voter Pamphlet Information:
Elected Experience:
Government Affairs Representative supporting Washington universities and previous intern at the Washington State House of Representatives. This is my first time running for a government office.
Other Professional Experience:
I am a previous business owner, insurance agent, and sales manager. I currently work as a special education teacher at Yelm Community Schools.
Education:
Yelm High School alumni. B.A. Business Management with a minor in Government, EWU. Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a B.A. in Education, WGU.
Community Service:
I have been actively volunteering my entire adult life. I have coached youth teams, volunteered in food banks, and worked with Boy Scouts of America.
Statement:
As a proud father of 8 and lifelong resident, I am running to make Yelm a prosperous, safe, and beautiful city for our families to thrive. I have seen the town grow from a population of 1,300 to more than 10,000.
I have deep roots in the Yelm community and have valuable skills that will benefit the city council. I graduated with an MBA in finance/accounting and ran a successful design and advertising business for many years. As a special education teacher at Yelm High School and Prairie Elementary, I’ve had many opportunities to interact with and serve many members of our community.
I plan to support many community initiatives and activities that benefit families. I will work with our police and school resource officers to create accountability and look for new ways to ensure the safety of our youth. It is also time for term limits in Yelm to ensure we continue to have a steady stream of new leaders.
I am against all forms of discrimination and will proudly stand up for disadvantaged groups and those in need. I am a moderate that will collaborate with our citizens and business community to ensure Yelm grows in a responsible way.