Born and raised in the blue-collar town of Kelso, Washington, Jeff Reardon learned the values of thrift and hard work from an early age. Jeff is a Vietnam Era Veteran who earned the highest rating possible during his term, E5, while serving on a nuclear submarine in the Western Pacific. His Naval service earned him the G.I. Bill so he could afford to become the first college graduate in his family. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Washington University.

Jeff began his career as a teacher in the Parkrose School District where he taught Industrial Arts for five years before taking a job at Tektronix. During his 21-year career there, Jeff advanced from technical writer to corporate communications manager. While working at Tektronix, Jeff continued to devote time to his lifelong passion of education by serving on the David Douglas School Board for a decade.

Jeff later went on to teach at David Douglas High School, educating students in the career-technical field for another decade. He retired from teaching in June.

As a lifelong educator, Jeff knows investments in our schools are critical to the success of our students and our state. He has seen firsthand how cuts make it increasingly difficult for teachers to provide a quality education as class sizes swell and the school year shortens. When elected to the legislature, Jeff will bring his lifetime of experience to the table to solidify funding for education so our students receive the education and attention they deserve.

Jeff knows that if we’re going to improve our economy now and in the future, Oregon must have a stronger manufacturing base. He and believes funding in career-technical education is a fundamental building block. In Salem, Jeff will advocate for these programs and make sure the state is a partner in private-sector job creation.

Jeff lives in East Portland with his wife, Annette Mattson. They have four daughters and are proud they’ve all graduated from Oregon universities.