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Biography
Jillian Hanson-Cox is a community advocate whose actions speak volumes about her dedication to her hometown. She has a burning desire to make El Cajon a great city to live in, work in, and play in. One that's safe, where people are happy and proud of their neighborhoods. In short, it's the underlying theme of her life's work.
This charismatic civic leader has lived in El Cajon for more than 40 years. Jillian' s family moved to California from Minnesota and then relocated here in 1964 where she graduated from El Cajon Valley High School in 1977. She married her husband, Robert Cox, in 1995 and they bought a house in the neighborhood she grew up in. At the early age of 25, Jillian displayed her entrepreneurial skills when she started her first enterprise.
Today, as the Controller of a manufacturing firm, she deals with the challenges of operating a business on a daily basis. And, as a manager of commercial property and rental property, she gained invaluable insight into the problems facing property owners. Her business success helped forge her commitment to a pro- business environment, to provide jobs, recreation, and affordable housing. She is steadfastly devoted to ensuring that police and firefighters have the tools and funding to protect El Cajon's families and neighborhoods.
Jillian believes in helping others help themselves. She proved this by helping many El Cajon groups develop into effective service organizations. For example, Jillian changed the role of the Miss El Cajon contest from a small pageant into a scholarship program with self-improvement workshops. Within four years, the program grew 1,100% with overwhelming support from the community residents and it's businesses. This farsighted refocusing expanded the influence of the program and more importantly, it transformed the lives of many young women. The Association has received numerous heart-warming tributes from its former candidates testifying that the program provided the turning point in their lives.
As a member of the San Diego East County Visitors' Bureau, California Women's Leadership Association, El Cajon Rotary, National Association of Female Executives, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce, graduate of Leadership East County, and volunteer/financial supporter to the Boys/Girls Club of East County, Mother Goose Parade Association, the Heartland Lions Club, and Cajon Valley Education Foundation Fundraisers, to name a few, Jillian continues to work alongside some of San Diego County's most prominent business and community leaders. Her unwavering spirit is an inspiration to her fellow volunteers.
But Jillian is more than a member and volunteer of charitable organizations, she has built a great reputation because "she gets the job done". This fact was clearly evidenced in 2003 when the El Cajon City Council unanimously voted her to the City Planning Commission which she now co-chairs. It's obvious that she learned well from her father, Jack Hanson, who as an El Cajon Councilman for 14 years, taught her to love, protect and preserve her city for the generations to come.
Jillian is expanding her community efforts and is now a candidate for the El Cajon City Council as the second generation wanting to continue the family tradition in serving El Cajon on the Council. Her campaign pledge comes from her heart and is proven by her deeds - to make El Cajon a great city to LIVE in, WORK in, and PLAY in - a place that people can be PROUD to call their home. With her fresh pair of eyes and new ideas, encompassed with her energy and passion, she will definitely be an asset on the City Council.
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