Jeff Kelly

Jeff Kelly served in the U.S. Army from 2007 to 2021. Kelly earned a high school diploma from Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Kelly earned an associate degree from the Baptist School of Health Professions in 2016. Kelly's career experience includes working as a registered nurse.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Raised by a single dad, I learned responsibility, resilience, and showing up.

Maren, my wife of 25 years, and I met working at the original Village Restaurant in Marysville. Our first apartments were on West Casino Road, where we slept on a mattress on the floor.

To provide for our babies, we both worked and our free days were spent at Labor-Ready doing day-labor jobs, and we relied on welfare, food stamps, Section 8 housing, and Medicaid.

We were doing everything we could to survive.

When opportunity wasn’t here, I took a job with a trucking company in Arizona. Weeks later, we packed everything we owned into a U-Haul and started over.

Service and Leadership

Maren joined the Army first, and we moved to Germany, where I became a stay-at-home dad to our toddlers while supporting other military families as a Family Readiness Group leader.

I served as a combat medic in Iraq and a critical care nurse in the U.S., caring for soldiers and patients in challenging environments.

I’ve spent my life serving and working with people from diverse backgrounds.

I am currently in my third year as the Delta Neighborhood Chair in North Everett, publicly advocating for my neighborhood and organizing community events like our free annual Shakespeare in the Park.

Families in District 38 are facing rising costs, fewer opportunities, and real safety concerns.

I’m running to bring real-world experience, accountability, and common sense back to Olympia.

That’s the difference I bring.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fully fund law enforcement

Fund police units to combat organized retail theft

Treat drug addiction, do not enable it

Protect our public spaces from harmful and illegal activitiesAFFORDABILITY

Reduce the current State gas tax burden at the pump

Facilitate a proportional tax plan that decreases burdens on working families

Increase housing through builder-friendly policiesOPPORTUNITY

Expand trade programs

Stop outsourcing our regional industries

Support living wage job creation through business-friendly policies

Free day-use entry to State Parks

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Housing, Economic Opportunity, Public Safety, Veteran Affairs

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 883, Scott Bader, Scott Murphy, Krist Novoselic̄