In the quiet, riverside town of Kalama, Washington, there’s a familiar face in leadership: theology and religious studies professor Jon Stanfill. Stanfill was sworn in as the mayor of Kalama on Jan. 1 after serving six years on the Kalama City Council.
Stanfill now serves the town’s 3,000 residents in a non-partisan role focused on housing, infrastructure and community engagement, all while continuing to guide students through courses like Engaging Ultimate Questions and Biblical Texts on The Bluff.
What began with a single-class teaching position as an adjunct professor in the fall of 2016 has become an established role in UP’s theology department.
One of his students, senior Charlie DeKlotz, says he was surprised when Stanfill announced he had been elected mayor of Kalama due to his humble nature. The accomplishment inspired Stanfill to invite DeKlotz and several other students out to dinner to celebrate.
“I appreciate how real he is,” DeKlotz said. “Yes, he's a professor, but he's also just a guy who makes time for [his] students and fosters those relationships.”
Stanfill says he didn’t expect to jump into politics, but his love for Kalama inspired him to serve the community.
Professor Stanfill lectures to students. Stanfill took office as mayor of Kalama, Washington on Jan. 1.
In 2019, Stanfill ran for and won a seat on Kalama’s City Council. During his tenure, he took on leadership roles like serving as a liaison to the police department and participating in strategic planning and hiring processes.
Despite his leadership experience, Stanfill didn’t initially imagine himself as mayor. In fact, it was a local architectural designer who first suggested that he run for mayor, and Stanfill “literally laughed out loud.”
Last summer, when Stanfill was considering his mayoral run, a brush fire sparked fears that Kalama might need to be evacuated.
This moment made him realize that, as an elected official, he would be responsible for the well-being of Kalama’s thousands of residents.
“I'm the guy [people look to], right?” Stanfill said. “I've joked with my city administrator that if something goes wrong, even if my phone's on silent, he'll be banging on my door at four in the morning.”
Despite the stress that comes with the job, Stanfill said his decision to run reflected his longtime interest in public service and his desire to translate his role as professor into a role in government.
“I’m trying to leave things better than I found them, to try to seek improvements, to make everyone’s life better,” Stanfill said. “I mean, how is that different from a classroom where I help you grow as a student?”
Adam Smee, Stanfill’s administrator, says Stanfill is the third mayor he’s worked under during his 13 years in city government. Stanfill and Smee developed a close friendship during their time on the council, and today Smee considers himself Stanfill’s chief of staff.
Stanfill stands out among Kalama’s leaders due to his commitment and preparation, according to Smee.
He recalls a time when he and fellow council members were handed a daunting 700-page water system plan, and Stanfill read every line.
“For Jon, the leadership piece is taking the time to have the ideas, to be prepared, to do your research, to talk to staff, to show up and then allow people the time to digest and take it in,” Smee said.
Before deciding to run for mayor, Stanfill admitted to feeling worried about applying for a leadership position in a town he is relatively new to, compared to the majority of residents, whose median age is over 50 years old.
“This is a town [with] an interesting mix of demographics because it feels like half the folks grew up here and are third or fifth generation Kalama residents,” Stanfill said. “I’ve lived in Kalama for two years, [so I thought] there's no way, right? But I decided I'd throw my hat in.”
But Stanfill’s care for the community's success compelled him to seek leadership. He knew the role involved taking on and addressing Kalama's problems, and he quickly went to work.
One of his many ambitious undertakings as mayor has been pushing for the adoption of the town’s accessory dwelling units (ADUs), an effort aimed at increasing housing availability in the city’s rugged terrain.
Stanfill also says that he hopes to create a Youth Council, which is a group of students from the local high school who will act as an elected body.
The Youth Council will help give students a taste of advanced leadership while also adding some new voices to the city government. Stanfill says the program has been successful in other cities around Washington.
Stanfill admits to feeling a little embarrassed when mentioning his next goal: curbside recycling. He says that Kalama currently utilizes drop-off centers for recycling but has been looking to make recycling more accessible.
Stanfill says the beauty of his non-partisan position is that it helps build trust among community members and fuels his ambition to serve.
“I really do try to find a way to represent everyone in my community,” Stanfill said. “From the folks waving 'No Kings' signs to the folks wearing the red hats, they’re all my citizens.”
Rieve Randall is the Living Editor for The Beacon. He can be reached at randallr28@up.edu.
