About Ev jones

Personal Motto

Shrewdness Guides, But Kindness Always Wins

Political/Public Service Experience

This is my second candidacy for federal public office. I first ran as an independent for Congress in the 4th District in 2020. But I have successfully interacted with all levels of government as an outsider working in industry, as an educator and youth advocate -- as well as in both national and local non-profit organizations.

I get my unshakable belief in the living possibility of productive and honorable politics and public service in the modern United States mainly from my interactions with neighbors and customers over the years here in the 4th District and in the other places around the nation where I grew up and where we have been blessed to live our best lives.

To most of us "out here in the real world", basic common sense and a deep appreciation of fairness, hard work and empathy is what makes life its sweetest.

When you really "talk progress" to most people face-to-face, you don't hear the talking points of extremist TV pundits or scheming party strategists. Instead -- most people I meet just crave a political environment in which our representatives work tirelessly and exclusively toward widely shared thriving (and not just on their own re-elections). And they want our public servants to tune out the talking heads and instead tackle real matters that actually affect our quality of life here where we live.

Not fake issues revved up by partisans to score points.

Most people I've met in Washington's 4th District (and in other parts of the country I've traveled in this challenging era) keep coming back to a "just show me progress" attitude that for most Americans rules the day. Just tell us the truth; work 24/7 on whatever it takes to expand opportunity in our inland towns and cities.

Either get meaningful (and measurable) things done that further improves quality of life for all of our families and communities -- or get out of the way.

That's what Congress needs to be about going forward. Simple as that.

Other Professional Experience

I currently work as an independent consultant in Richland focused on Workplace Project Management, Enterprise Learning Development & Organizational Transformation for clients in industry, education and the non profit sphere (learn-thrive.com).

Over the years I've also held down a variety of "second jobs" as part of my daily work routine -- including serving as an Educational Advocate supporting youth in Foster Care for the Washington state non-profit, Treehouse (treehouseforkids.org). Since 2010, I've also fed my passion for aviation and my joy for teamwork as a part-time hourly crew member (mostly on evenings and weekends) for commercial airlines at local airports near where I have lived, most recently over the last six years here in Washington. (So just wave if you catch me working a shift in my orange vest either helping customers, loading up bags or otherwise servicing your aircraft!)

I've been blessed with a number of different opportunities to support, facilitate and serve: As a middle and high school teacher, coach and leader I was blessed with several generations of exceptional students who I guided toward seeking out rather than fading from challenges, toward always looking for ways to make a difference -- and toward building their own version of an extraordinary life. In 2010 I was appointed as Headmaster at New York Military Academy, one of America's premier military boarding schools still operating near West Point. (NYMA was also my high school alma mater -- as well as that of President Trump).

At other points in my career I have I had the opportunity to work as a a mid-level manager in industry (in the Paper & Forest Products sector and in Airlines) and also served 3-years as Director of Communications and the National Spokesperson for the Keep America Beautiful non-profit organization (kab.org), working closely with KAB's over 500 community affiliates across the nation.

Ev in the Civics classroom back in the day.

Upbringing and Education

My family has post-Civil War roots in Washington. But I grew up a New Englander in Westport, Connecticut -- attending public schools until 10th grade when I enrolled at New York Military Academy to complete high school. I was first in my class at NYMA and achieved the rank of Company Commander (in the picture [right] I am the young cadet on the left standing alongside LTC Robert Harter, USMC -- who was my chief mentor at the school).

I received my BA from Kenyon College (Ohio) in Sociology while also lettering in Division III Varsity Football and Baseball. I did further graduate study in the mid-1980s at the London School of Economics (Policy & Planning) in the United Kingdom, at the University of Virginia (Social Foundations of Education) and online with Robert Kennedy College in Zurich, Switzerland (Leading Innovation & Change).

I completed US Army JROTC training in high school and later on completed the U.S. Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Class (PLC) Officer Candidate School at MCDEC Quantico, Virginia during peacetime in 1980.

Most Recent Community Service

Service has long been a guiding principle in my life.

Most recently I have been striving with local volunteers in Central Washington to develop a network of small non-profits in inland towns and cities north-to-south focused on volunteer-driven community improvement projects, neighborhood beautification efforts, and citizen-learning programs highlighting litter-prevention, recycling and cost-effective community waste management.

The hub for this regional effort is Tri-Cities Beautiful (tricitiesbeautiful.org) which will become a service organization leading positive and results-oriented volunteer quality of life efforts in and around this part of the District. We've already led several great community cleanup and recycling events since 2020 and hope to fully blossom the Tri-Cities organization by Fall 2025. At the same time we are working to expand these efforts throughout Central and Eastern Washington with locally driven community care groups throughout 2026 and 2027.

For years I have also worked in communities as a volunteer Red Cross Lifeguarding and CPR/First Aid Instructor and worked near home with various youth-focused non-profits such as Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, foster parenting programs, and in boys and girls summer camps.

Bella the Independent Campaign Dog on one of our "litter pickup hikes" at Twin Sisters near Burbank,

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN YOU WORK SMART, CARE AbOUT PROGRESS

I have learned so much about widely shared thriving working with front-line teams in the airline industry since 2010.

"Stay positive; always be honorable to yourself and the mission; hold your ground; be thoughtful about what you are doing and why; commit once the facts are clear and the job needs doing; always take care to tend to your most critical role of illuminating possibility for those around you."

(Left) Ev Jones helping the team to guide an aircraft into another safe and on-time arrival.