About Jason Jackson

Jason JacksonLifelong Resident of El Centro

I am a lifelong resident of El Centro and am the son of Harry and Carolyn Jackson.

As a child I attended school at Desert Gardens and Wilson Junior High and graduated from Central Union High School in 1991 where I took pride in being a member of the Great Spartan Band’s Drumline.

After graduating from Central Union High School I attended Imperial Valley College and received my Associates of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 1994. I continued my education while working as a Juvenile Detention Officer for the Imperial County Probation Office by attending San Diego State University, Calexico campus. After 2 years at SDSU, I graduated with my Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration in 1996.

 

Local Education

Having the passion for the Criminal Justice field, I joined a start up private security and investigative company named Desert Security Services. I soon became the General Manager for Desert Security and have worked diligently on taking Desert Security to the most respected private security firm in Imperial County overseeing an operation with over two hundred local employees.

In 2002, I decided to continue my education and returned to San Diego State University, Calexico Campus where I obtained my Masters of Public Administration degree. While doing so I began to get more involved in my own community.

In 2005, I was voted onto the Board of Directors for the El Centro Chamber of Commerce where I served four years as a director and Chaired the Community Enhancement Committee for the last two. During my time as Chairman of that committee we established a graffiti abatement program that has been addressing our city's graffiti needs ever since.

 

Helping Downtown El Centro

In 2006, I was honored to receive an appointment to the Community Services Commission by then Mayor Sedalia Sanders. After serving for only 4 months, Mayor Sanders approached me and asked if I was willing to serve in a different capacity as a Planning Commissioner for our City. I couldn’t resist the offer to serve El Centro in such an important role, and accepted the post.

I served four years as a Commissioner, and finished my four year term as the Vice-Chairman of the Commission.

In 2006 I decided to take a better look at our Downtown, which has been the heart and soul to many of us from El Centro. I felt that I needed to do more and in 2007 was elected to serve as the Vice-President for the Board of Directors for El Centro’s Downtown Business Association. It is there where our Board not only saw the opportunity but more importantly the economic benefit in partnering up with the Blue Angels Airshow and Golf Tournament. Through our efforts—we were able to secure some funding for El Centro’s Downtown revitalization efforts—and through it all our Downtown El Centro Business Association along with the Blue Angels Golf Committee has supported many local causes in the region with total contributions that add up to over $50,000.00 in the past five years.

 

Better Jobs and Safe Communities for El Centro

Having a deep interest in our County's workforce and high unemployment rates, I was approached in the fall of 2007 to serve on the Imperial County Workforce Development Board. While on the Board, our job and duty has been to prepare our Valley’s workforce for existing and future Imperial Valley based industries to come. Working with both labor groups and local businesses, I have earned the trust of many of our board members and was recently re-elected to serve my fourth term as Chairman in June 2011.

Preparing our local workforce is important to us all—but nothing is more important to the families of El Centro than to live in a safe community.

In 2008, our El Centro Police Chief asked me if I was willing to participate in the newly formed Advisory Board. I felt that with my past experience in law enforcement and my current employment as the General Manager for the largest security firm in the Valley I could lend some much needed insight to the Chief's Advisory Board. With the acceptance of the position, our Board helped steer the El Centro Police Department through a difficult transition from the then chief, to an interim Chief, and finally to a new permanent Chief that came on in April of 2009.

 

Ready to Serve El Centro!

I have always been committed to our El Centro community and have continually worked to make Imperial Valley and the City of El Centro a better place for future generations. Apart from the above mentioned community organizations that I am involved with, I also serve as a member of our local California Mid Winter Fair Board, a member of the El Centro Kiwanis Club, and serve on the annual "Fireball" Dinner Committee for the Burn Institute of Imperial Valley.

I do this because I care for our community, and I want what’s best for El Centro for years to come.

If you feel the same and would like to help or join my campaign to become El Centro’s next City Councilmember — please, call me at 760-791-5576 or click here and submit your info.

Thank You