Jessica Sandlin, a political newcomer, writer and single mother of five, has decided that Scott Rigell, Bert Mizusawa, Ben Loyola, Ken Golden, Scott Taylor, Ed Maulbeck, and Chuck Smith are not enough of a choice for 2nd District Republicans, so she is entering the congressional campaign.
From Sandlin about why she’s running:
“I am running because it is time to change the conversation occurring at the policy level in America,” said Sandlin, who believes that the best kind of legislator – and the one our Founders’ intended – is a citizen legislator.
“If [Republicans] continue to use the same process, the results will be the same. If the party is to survive, we must notice and respond to the change in topography happening in our country,” she said. “People are dissatisfied- some are downright grab-the-pitchfork furious- with BOTH parties. I know why conservatism is better. I can bring that message to a new audience.”
Here is Sandlin’s bio:
Jessica Sandlin has been a resident of Virginia Beach and the Second Congressional District for fourteen years. Like many Americans, she has followed with dismay the recent events that challenge our great country – the economic crisis, the contention over governments’ place and power in our lives, the underfunding of critical military and security missions, the narcissism of our leaders, the leveraging of our future, the empty promises, the backroom deal-making and the scandals. The dreams we have for ourselves and our children seem to be moving out of our grasp.
Uncertainty and confusion cloud the road ahead. There are no easy answers, but we know if the process we use in the future is the same, the results will be the same! More than ever we need citizens with honesty, optimism, intelligence, and determination to step up. Jessica brings these qualities and more. Believing deeply in the great opportunities our freedom provides, she has the expertise to serve our community and confront the enormous challenges which face our nation during this period of economic hardship.
Jessica was born in Arlington, Virginia on September 12, 1969. Growing up in Northern Virginia, she enjoyed a rich diversity of friends from all over the world. She was baptized in the Episcopal Church and was active as an Acolyte and in youth programs. After graduating from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, she attended James Madison University for her freshman year.
She took a year off to work in the personnel department of the FDIC during the Savings and Loan crisis in 1989. She returned Randolph-Macon Woman’s College for one semester in the fall of 1989, and then returned to JMU, graduating with a B.A. in English and Secondary Education in 1992. After returning to the FDIC for the summer, she begin substituting at both public and private schools before taking a long-term job substituting at Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL. Then she moved back to Virginia Beach with her husband, Kevin.
Jessica and Kevin had their first child, Rebecca, in June of 1993 at Chesapeake General Hospital. Like many dedicated Navy wives, Jessica moved with her husband to Japan in the spring of 1994 where he joined VF-21 (the Freelancers), an F-14 squadron.
Jessica and Kevin had their second child, Christopher, in June of 1995. Based on her personal positive experience, Jessica began studying to become a La Leche League leader (breastfeeding support group).
Jessica accompanied her husband to duty stations in Pensacola, Virginia Beach, Japan, and San Diego before their return to Virginia Beach in 1996. She worked as a stay-at-home-mother, a labor support person, and a homeschool teacher. She was active in both military spouses’ groups and community. In 1997, Jessica studied to become a certified childbirth educator (CCE) and taught Bradley natural childbirth classes in Virginia Beach. Phoebe (1997), Luke (1998), and Hope (2000) were born at home in Virginia Beach.
A single parent for the last nine years, Jessica has worked as a volunteer at her children’s schools, renovated an older home, worked part-time as a freelance writer and editor, and served as an administrative assistant to a local Montessori school director. Jessica is an avid reader and researcher. She has been a vegetarian for twenty years and enjoys both writing and photography in her spare time.
Jessica is proud to have made family her top priority. She considers her most important job has been as a fulltime mom to five wonderful children. Committed to the goal of life-long education, she is an active volunteer to school and community providing meaningful experiences and opportunities for children to learn. As a mother and educator she’s honed the skills that a good Congresswoman needs: thorough in her preparation, objective in assessing the issues, steadfast in the face of bullying, a fierce advocate for her District, pro-active not reactive, a strong, confident communicator with the ability to cooperatively reach goals.
Jessica brings a fresh voice to the policy conversation; she is not a millionaire, not a wheeler-dealer businessman, not a political insider, but a Virginia-educated, concerned citizen-legislator. She believes that the future of America is on the line, that Congress needs the voices of women for balance, and that the 2nd District deserves a Representative not mired in the same old party-line ideas. Jessica is not an ideologue, but is full of optimism, energy, and creativity to lead our future!
Jessica lives in Virginia Beach with her five school-aged children: Rebecca, Chris, Phoebe, Luke, and Hope.
Her parents live in Falls Church, Virginia. She has one sister, two years younger, who lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee.
