Goals for my six year term as commissioner:
- Find new ways to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters in the Northwest area of the district. In my short time campaigning I have encountered more than 10 citizens that are willing to volunteer in the district after hearing about this desperate need.
- Make the Fire station on corner of Grandview and Koehn Rd effective by recruiting more staff. (this Whitehorn station has only 2 members)*
- Give the public direct access to commissioner meetings by publishing video or audio recordings of every meeting on the district website. The meeting minutes currently published by the district are devoid of the details the public needs to stay informed.
- Enhance communication, training, between WCFD7 and all other fire districts in the county in order to share resources better, build relationships with other responders and reduce costs.
- Help administrators find ways to economize operations by performing routine budget exercises with scenarios where they must pretend to cut budget 10%, 20% or more. This will help reduce waste by revealing true needs versus fat in the budget.
*Mistakenly listed as Grandview and Enterprise Rd. (My apologies to anyone who read this previously).
These are just some of the goals I would like to accomplish as fire commissioner. I promise to be open, fair, and honest. I will put the needs and safety of the citizens first.
Significant Career Experience:
- Three years as a volunteer Firefighter and EMT-Basic with Whatcom Fire Dist 13.
- Two years as an in station resident, Firefighter and EMT-Intermediate at Turner Fire District in Turner Oregon.
- Two years as a volunteer Firefighter and EMT-B with Whatcom Fire Dist 7.
- Worked as a welder, fabricator and draftsman with Andgar Corp of Ferndale.
- Fourteen years as as Firefighter, Engineer and EMT-B with Bellingham Fire Department
- Member of Ferndale School District Facilities Advisory Board.
- Active member of Eagleridge Elementary PTO
Education:
- Ferndale High School Graduate 1988.
- A.A. Fire Science degree from Chemeketa Community College in Salem OR.
- Nearly complete Paramedic training in 2001.
Family:
- Married to Karen Jensen
- 10 year old son
- 8 year old daughter
- Parents:
- Clary and Rosalie Jensen
Brief Statement: I have been a citizen of Whatcom County all my life, and it’s as a citizen first that I will bring my experience to the Fire Dist 7 board of Commissioners. I have actively participated in the enormous amount of change that has happened in Whatcom County Fire and EMS over my last twenty years in the fire service. A struggling economy has added even more challenges for the future of emergency service delivery. I intend to bring fresh enthusiasm and ideas to make sure that every tax dollar is being spent in the most efficient manner possible. Publishing audio or video of public meetings will ensure that every district citizen will have opportunity to observe actions of district leaders including myself. Citizens will have a better opportunity to educate themselves about their district and also participate in the decisions affecting their Fire and EMS service.
It is your money, your service, your community.
Please Let me use my diverse experience to humbly serve our community by making our fire and EMS service the role model for all of Whatcom County.