Meet Jessica

Hello! I'm Jessica Rienstra, a nurse practitioner, a small business owner, and someone who was born and raised in rural Whatcom County. I'm running for County Council in District 3 because I care deeply about our community and I believe we deserve leadership that works hard, advocates fiercely, and shows up for us.

This isn't just where I live — it's my home. My family roots here go back generations to when my grandfather moved to Everson after serving in World War II. I grew up surrounded by hard working people — union members, educators, caregivers — and I learned early on the values of perseverance, generosity, and doing right by your neighbors.

I've spent the last 20 years working in healthcare — from local clinics to global disaster response. I started as a nursing assistant, went through programs at BTC and Western, and earned my nurse practitioner license after graduate work at Gonzaga. I've worked in memory care, pediatrics, infectious disease, rural health access, substance use disorder treatment, and emergency response efforts during the pandemic. Whether it was responding to the 2021 flood here at home, or helping set up clinics in East Africa, I've always been drawn to the work that brings people together in tough moments and moves us forward.

When looking at our health and wellbeing, medical care is only part of the picture. Strengthening and creating policies and systems that promote healthy communities is equally important for us in order to make real and lasting change – this change must be done intentionally, with the future in mind, and with designs that work for our unique needs in Whatcom County. Addressing the housing shortage, food insecurity, disaster preparedness are all critical in our work towards enhancing our community's well-being.

I'm committed to tackling the pressing challenges we face—from rural infrastructure and economic opportunity to healthcare access and affordable housing. I am asking for your endorsement, your support, and your vote. Together we can show up for each other and keep our communities strong.