SPOTLIGHT RACE: Jessica Anderson for VA-HD71
Jessica “Jess” Anderson is not a career politician. She is an everyday person who is passionate about advocating for the needs of her community. Jess understands the real struggles that families face in Virginia’s 71st House of Delegates District because she has firsthand experience. She is committed to recognizing and addressing flaws in our systems with the goal of meeting the needs of many while ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard.
Jess is a married mother of three daughters and a stepmother to a son and a daughter. As a lifelong Virginian, born and raised in Newport News and later raising her family in Williamsburg and New Kent and James City Counties, she is deeply connected to her community. She earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration from Thomas Nelson Community College in May 2007. While pursuing her degree, she worked full-time in billing, insurance, and scheduling at a local family dental practice, a position she held for more than seven years before choosing to devote herself to her family as a stay-at-home mom.
In late 2014, during a challenging divorce, Jess struggled to provide health insurance for her young daughters and to meet everyday financial needs while trying to re-enter the workforce. Social safety net programs like EBT and FAMIS provided her the necessary food and health insurance to support her family for the next two years. Jess saw firsthand how crucial and life-saving social safety nets are for families, and the importance of ensuring every person has the opportunity to be successful and thrive. These experiences inspired her desire to serve her community and run for Virginia’s 71st District.
Jess married her current husband David in 2017 after meeting him through the vibrant local running community. The couple resides in Williamsburg and James City County with two of their five children, three pups, and a cat. Two of their adult children have graduated college and are working as nurses in Virginia, and the third will be graduating with a history degree in May. In 2018, Jess left the insurance and billing industry to pursue a new career as a part-time front office receptionist at a public elementary school in the 71st District. This role has provided her with firsthand insight into the inner workings of public education and its impact on educators, staff, students, and their families.
https://jessicaandersonforva.com