Sipes, Jill – DHS: Candidate for Director

Thank you for trusting me as the Region 1 Central Valley (Marion and Polk Counties) Assistant Director during the current 2024-2026 board cycle. During this cycle I was granted the opportunity to fill a vacated position and elevated to serve as your Director. I humbly ask that you maintain your trust in me and allow me to continue serving in this capacity, allowing me to practice the lessons I have learned, as there are many. There is an amazing strength when we stand together across workplace and regions — the board affords us the opportunity to reflect the diversity of our membership which is 72,000 and growing.

Public sector is often forced to do more with less, expected to rise above tough economic times while our community loses access to essential programs and we face budget challenges and constant organized attacks on working people. It is essential that our governance continues its focus on growing and strengthening our union. I have worked for ODHS for more than 20 years and have served many programs, in diverse capacities and titles, both as a state employee and as a proud SEIU 503 member leader. I believe every member deserves strong representation, access to information, mentorship, and an awareness of how to elevate their voice in the decisions that shape our union while supporting strategies which directly influence our workplaces. I promise I will not have every answer, but I commit to staying informed to effectively connect members, listening, learning and continuing to work hard on behalf of my peers.

Our board is the governing body of our union, between sessions of our General Council, and members are trusted to meaningfully contribute to the administration of the affairs of our Union. I agree to continue to ask tough questions, solicit our region’s priorities and adhere to working collaboratively to positively influence our union responsiveness, transparency and accountability.

We are a member run union. We choose our union leaders. Participating in union elections is the most powerful contribution in building and maintaining a strong labor movement. Thank you for considering candidate statements and I also compel you to reach out to candidates personally with any inquiries, thank you for your time – your voice matters!

Jill Sipes candidate for Region 01: Central Valley Director