Meet Preston Jackson — West Sacramento City Council Candidate, District 3

Preston was raised primarily by his mother alongside his older brother and younger sister. Teachers, coaches, and school administrators became some of the most important influences in his life.

One of those mentors was Dr. Waddell Robinson, a middle school vice principal whose firm but caring guidance helped Preston navigate a difficult period. Dr. Robinson held him accountable, stayed in close contact with his mother, and made sure he understood that the adults around him expected more from him because they saw his potential.

At Valley High School, freshman football coach Tim Webb recognized Preston's athletic ability and made him believe football could open doors. Another school administrator nominated him for the Sacramento Links Beautillion and later encouraged him to begin substitute teaching after college. These educators taught Preston how profoundly one committed adult can change the direction of a young person's life.

Football ultimately took Preston to UC Davis, where he became one of the most accomplished running backs in Cal Aggie history. He set numerous rushing records, including records for single-season yards, touchdowns, consecutive 100-yard games, career 100-yard games, and yards per carry. Several of his records still stand. Preston graduated from UC Davis in 1994 and was inducted into the Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

The discipline, preparation, and teamwork Preston learned through athletics became the foundation of his career as a teacher and coach. He entered education because he wanted to give other young people the same guidance and encouragement that his teachers and coaches had given him. In 2014, he earned a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Sacramento State. In 2020, he was selected for a Teach Plus fellowship.

In 2018, West Sacramento voters elected Preston to the Washington Unified School District Board of Education. His election made history: he became the first Black person elected to public office in West Sacramento. In 2019, he became the district’s first Black board president.

As board president, Preston helped lead the district through the unprecedented onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the difficult decision to close schools safely and thoughtfully. He also helped advance the district’s Facilities Master Plan and served on the organizing committee for Measure Z, the largest school bond measure in West Sacramento history.

For the past three years, Preston has served on the West Sacramento Planning Commission. He has reviewed consequential decisions involving housing, commercial development, zoning, transportation, environmental review, and infrastructure. That experience has given him a clear understanding of how decisions made today will affect West Sacramento’s neighborhoods, economy, and quality of life for decades.

Preston and his wife are proudly raising their daughters in West Sacramento. Family life has deepened his commitment to the schools, parks, public safety, and neighborhood quality that shape children’s lives.

He remains actively involved in his daughters’ activities, coaching their teams and leading the team to championships. Whether he is serving on a public board or coaching from the sidelines, Preston believes young people thrive when adults show up consistently, set high expectations, and help them recognize their potential.