Stickley for Coroner

Jessica's Priorities

Compassion. service. prevention.

I believe in personal responsibility, respect for every individual, good stewardship of public resources, and that serving our community is a privilege. Those principles have guided my life and career, and they are the principles I would bring to the office of Lewis County Coroner.

When cases are poorly approached and mishandled; and leadership does not take responsibility for their actions, grieving families and the pubic are the ones to pay. Precedence for the Coroner is to serve the community and protect our community's integrity with professional, collaborative, and benevolent service.

If elected I would be the first female Coroner to serve Lewis County offering my community equal representation, a diverse perspective, demonstration to young women that career goals are attainable, and opportunity to establish a new leadership legacy.

Priorities include:

Strengthening investigative practices to adhere to national standards to ensure families are receiving accurate investigations, every case, every time
Repairing and building new relationships with law enforcement and first responders to enhance communication and transparency with each agency and the public
Improving accessibility and communication to better support grieving families
Increasing partnerships with community agencies to focus on preventing avoidable deaths whenever possible

I am committed to serving families with intellect and compassion, strengthening our community through collaboration, and helping turn loss into knowledge that may prevent future tragedy.

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Education, Professional Development & Certifications:

Master of Science in Studies in Human Behavior
Positive Psychology certificate; Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School
Leadership for Purposeful Change: Creating Public Value certificate; HarvardX, learning initiative of Harvard University
15+ years experience in the medicolegal death investigation field
Nearly two decades of behavioral health service provision with 9 years of administrative oversight
Diplomate of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners (IACME) member
American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Certified Psychological Autopsy Practitioner
Washington State Forensic Investigator certified through the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC)
FEMA certified in Emergency Management Incident Command
Certified in Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) specialized investigation
IACME certificate for Death Certification
OSHA exposure response certified
QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper certified
Certified Disaster Mental Health Field Responder
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) debriefing practitioner

I've Been Listening.

Throughout this campaign families, community members, and professional partners have shared concerns about their experiences with the current coroner's office, including:

Deficits in investigative professionalism and competency
Lawsuits costing taxpayers
Communication deficiencies with the public and professional partners
Lack of transparency and accountability for mistakes made
Limited longer-term support and guidance for families after a death

I will:

Strengthen investigative standards and professional practices
Repair and build professional partnerships
Improve accessibility and communication
Support families beyond the investigation with aftercare resources
Increase transparency and accountability
Lead community death-prevention efforts

Jessica's Story

My siblings and I were raised in a small rural community with conventional values where I learned early that life does not hand everyone the same opportunities. During my childhood and teenage years, I experienced the loss of several people who shaped my life, including my father, grandfather, and a significant other. Those experiences became defining moments that taught me resilience, empathy, and the importance of showing up for others during life's darkest moments. They also helped me understand that every death leaves behind a family whose lives are forever changed.

Despite these challenges, I graduated near the top of my class while working two jobs to support myself. Scholarships from local organizations and my Native Village of Afognak Tribe allowed me to pursue higher education, but I continued working two and sometimes three jobs while raising my child and helping care for my grandmother through declining health. Those experiences strengthened my appreciation for responsibility, perseverance, and caring for others with dignity.

Throughout my career, service has always come before recognition. As a cheerleading coach, I worked to instill confidence, discipline, teamwork, and respect in young people. In human services, I advocated for individuals living with mental illness and substance use concerns, developed supportive programs, and spoke publicly to reduce stigma while connecting people with resources and hope.

For more than fifteen years, I have dedicated my career to medicolegal death investigation. Every person I have cared for, regardless of their background, circumstances, or the manner of their death, has been treated with compassion, dignity, and respect. I have walked alongside grieving families during some of the hardest days of their lives, helping them navigate the uncertainty that follows the loss of a loved one.

Today, I live in Toledo with my family, where we enjoy caring for our small farm. I continue to pursue educational and professional development because I believe learning never stops. Every experience throughout my life has reinforced one simple belief: people deserve compassion, honest communication, and dedicated public service. Those values continue to guide both my career and my vision for serving Lewis County.

VALUES IN SERVICE

Compassion

Treating every person with dignity and respect.
Caring for neighbors during times of hardship.
Supporting families through difficult moments.
Recognizing the inherent worth of every individual.

Service

Putting the community before personal recognition.
Being a responsible steward of public resources.
Honoring commitments and serving with professionalism.
Building trust through reliability, honesty, and accountability.

Prevention

Taking responsibility to reduce avoidable harm.
Promoting education and preparedness.
Working with families, schools, first responders, and community organizations to improve public safety.
Learning from experience to protect future generations.

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Commitment to those who have Served

Veterans

Supporting veterans is deeply personal to me. Several members of my family have served in the military, and I have seen firsthand the sacrifices veterans and their families make in service to our country. Throughout my career, I have also had the opportunity to participate in local efforts aimed at supporting veterans, including providing training and education related to recognizing and responding to veterans in crisis

Values

My campaign values of Compassion, Service, and Prevention closely align with my commitment to our veteran community. I believe in treating every individual with dignity and respect, strengthening partnerships with organizations that serve veterans, and supporting prevention efforts that help connect those in need with resources before a crisis occurs. As Coroner, I will continue to support collaboration, education, and community outreach efforts that honor and serve those who have served us and their families.

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