Hi! My name is Jana Andrews and I am your elected Eastern District representative for Poquoson City Council. I’m a Virginia gal, born and bred. I come from a long line of farmers in Pittsylvania County and Northern North Carolina. I was raised in Loudoun County, Virginia, another farming community. The city I grew up in was very much like Poquoson (without the water). It was the kind of community where the welcome wagon lady came to your door when you moved in, everyone went to the same community pool, saw each other at the baseball field the community used, went to the same set of excellently rated schools, and I could run around the neighborhood playing with my friends or walk to the pool without my parents being worried about my safety. It was middle America at its finest, much like Poquoson. My husband Mark and I, who have been married 30 years, moved to the area 19 years ago for a job transfer. We chose Poquoson as our home because of the excellent schools and because it reminded me of the kind of community I grew up in, the kind of community we both wanted to raise our children in. We made a good choice. Our daughter Amanda and son M.J. had a great childhood in Poquoson, made some lifelong friends, went through the excellent Poquoson school system, and both graduated from fine Virginia colleges with master’s degrees. We have a VT Hokie and JMU Duke. Our family is expanding as Amanda married Jordan two years ago and M.J. is getting married next June to Corrin (a Poquoson gal). Grandchildren next I hope!
Being a mother was always my number one job! But I also have a bachelor’s degree in finance from George Mason University and have been in the business world as a financial analyst for the past 30 years. I’ve worked for various government contractors in both the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads areas managing budgets up to $30 million dollars. I love what I do and you could call me a spreadsheet nerd. If you ever need help with a budget or a spreadsheet, I’m your woman!
I believe in serving your community. I was a Girl Scout leader for 13 years, substitute teacher in Poquoson schools, Poquoson band parent/treasurer, served continually in the classrooms at all four Poquoson schools and now serve on Poquoson City Council. Some of the things I like to do with my spare time are bake, exercise (go Bull Island Boot Camp!), be outdoors, go to the beach as often as possible, and read. But I like spending most of my free time with friends and family.
Like you, I LOVE Poquoson. We are known and envied as a safe, bedroom community with excellent schools, beautiful waterways and wildlife, and a small-town feel. When you drive down Victory Boulevard or Wythe Creek Road entering Poquoson, you know you’re in a special place. It looks, feels and IS different than our surrounding communities. I intend to keep it that way. It is my duty, as your elected representative on City Council, to preserve and protect all of the things that make our city special for people like you and I who choose to make this our home.