Who is Jill Franko and why is she running for City Council?

 

Jill is a mother, wife, a team leader and skilled negotiator.  She provides strong leadership for the Ashland school district as an elected member of the school board, for the taxpayers as an advocate for the school bond, and for her family.  Jill not only believes in the power of community but lives it, collaborating with the city, SOU, school unions, and consultants to make sure our kids have the greatest opportunities possible.

 

As a young woman who moved here to raise her family and participate in the life of Ashland; Jill understands what is needed to support her community.

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Jill grew up in a small town just 45 minutes south of Ashland. With 4 siblings, and a mother who struggles with mental health, Jill knows things can look very different on the outside compared to what is behind closed doors. As an elected school board member, Jill has been an advocate for mental health support to ensure every child's needs are met, while supporting our teachers during an unprecedented pandemic. Jill knows how to peel back the layers to get to the real issues.

 

While working to protect kids, she experienced first hand the disfunction behind the closed doors of Ashland’s city government.  She understands that the citizens need advocacy just as much as the students of this town. 

 

Growing up, it was her community that helped Jill to thrive. Now she wants to give back, to return the support she gained as a child, by making the changes needed at city hall to give the citizens the support they need, not the other way around.