Mayor Jessie Tubbs: Vision for Progress, Collaboration, and Community Building
October 7, 2025
By Carissa Schroeder
Mayor Tubbs’s dedication and drive stem from a deep love for the place she calls home. She doesn’t just see West Lafayette as a village — she sees it as a community full of potential, resilience, and heart. Her hands-on leadership and forward-thinking approach continue to inspire progress, ensuring that the village remains a place where everyone can feel proud to live, work, and belong.
When Mayor Jessica Tubbs took office in West Lafayette, she had a goal and was ready to see her vision come to life. As the first female Mayor of the Village of West Lafayette, Tubbs
stepped into the role as Mayor because she wanted to see change in the village that she, her parents, and some of her grandparents grew up in. Now in her role for two years, Mayor Tubbs is working on making West Lafayette a clean, safe and community driven place to live.
A Village Adapting
Founded in 1850, the Village of West Lafayette has steadily grown while maintaining its strong sense of community and compassion. Public service has always been a driving force for Mayor Tubbs, who believes that every resident deserves to be heard and represented. Her current priority is the village’s stormwater management project, aimed at reducing the risk of flooding caused by excessive runoff outside the village limits. Mayor Tubbs envisions a system that effectively collects and redirects water to the river, ensuring that residents can feel secure knowing their community is protected during heavy rainfall.
Under Mayor Tubbs’ leadership, the village has also made significant progress in improving local infrastructure and cleanliness. One key initiative has been the revitalization of the village alleys. Through coordinated community clean-up events, residents have removed large amounts of trash and debris, filled multiple dumpsters and restored pride in their shared spaces. This hands-on effort reflects her commitment to fostering a clean, welcoming environment for all.
Housing and revitalization have also been central to Mayor Tubbs’ mission. For years before becoming the mayor, Mayor Tubbs renovated instead of demolishing older homes and buildings; she prioritized restoration and adaptive reuse—transforming neglected structures into viable businesses or comfortable family homes. Recent construction projects have breathed new life into several buildings, including a new bank located across from the mayor’s office. These improvements are part of a broader effort to modernize the village while preserving its historic character.
Making Plans
Mayor Tubbs treats a game plan not as a luxury but as the backbone of governance. A well-constructed plan translates ambition into concrete steps, assigns responsibility, and creates checkpoints that keep the community informed and engaged. It is not rigid for its own sake, but a framework that prioritizes evidence, transparency, and accountability as changes are pursued. Mayor Tubbs recognizes that a strong game plan provides the foundation for consistency and accountability. It gives village leaders, staff, and residents a shared sense of purpose and direction, helping everyone understand what goals are being pursued and how progress will be measured. In a small village, where residents often wear multiple hats and collaboration is key; a clear plan prevents duplication of effort and promotes teamwork across departments and community partners.
The Role of the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress
Mayor Tubbs was introduced to the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress by one of the staff members at an OMEGA meeting. MPP was able to offer Mayor Tubbs help with a stormwater issue that her municipality was having and now is identifying funding and finalizing the details of the project’s second phase. Tubbs said, “Mayors’ Partnership for Progress is instrumental for making connections, and guidance with how to help municipalities.” In the Village of West Lafayette, Mayor Tubbs credits the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress as a driving force behind the community’s recent strides. Describing the organization as “an incredible resource,” the mayor says MPP’s network of experienced local leaders has provided the guidance needed to navigate the often-chaotic realities of small-town governance.
That mentorship, the mayor notes, has translated directly into tangible improvements for residents and businesses alike. When one local business faced setbacks due to a REAP grant freeze, insights from MPP and collaboration among community members helped get the company back on track with incredible support—ultimately leading to a successful grant award. Perhaps the most transformative impact came from a $10,000 grant through MPP to conduct a stormwater study, an effort of years in the making. The study addressed flooding in areas both within and beyond village limits. The mayor emphasizes that while the problem has persisted, MPP’s support helped put a plan in motion, signaling a helpful step toward protecting West Lafayette from worsening rainfall and flooding in the years ahead.
Looking to the Future
Reflecting on her time as mayor, Tubbs takes immense pride in her village and the progress made under her leadership. Her commitment to improving the community is unwavering; she’s constantly exploring new ideas, innovative solutions, and opportunities that can enhance the village’s growth and vitality. Mayor Tubbs’s dedication and drive stem from a deep love for the place she calls home. She doesn’t just see West Lafayette as a village — she sees it as a community full of potential, resilience, and heart. Her hands-on leadership and forward-thinking approach continue to inspire progress, ensuring that the village remains a place where everyone can feel proud to live, work, and belong.
By Carissa Schroeder
Mayor Tubbs’s dedication and drive stem from a deep love for the place she calls home. She doesn’t just see West Lafayette as a village — she sees it as a community full of potential, resilience, and heart. Her hands-on leadership and forward-thinking approach continue to inspire progress, ensuring that the village remains a place where everyone can feel proud to live, work, and belong.
When Mayor Jessica Tubbs took office in West Lafayette, she had a goal and was ready to see her vision come to life. As the first female Mayor of the Village of West Lafayette, Tubbs
stepped into the role as Mayor because she wanted to see change in the village that she, her parents, and some of her grandparents grew up in. Now in her role for two years, Mayor Tubbs is working on making West Lafayette a clean, safe and community driven place to live.
A Village Adapting
Founded in 1850, the Village of West Lafayette has steadily grown while maintaining its strong sense of community and compassion. Public service has always been a driving force for Mayor Tubbs, who believes that every resident deserves to be heard and represented. Her current priority is the village’s stormwater management project, aimed at reducing the risk of flooding caused by excessive runoff outside the village limits. Mayor Tubbs envisions a system that effectively collects and redirects water to the river, ensuring that residents can feel secure knowing their community is protected during heavy rainfall.
Under Mayor Tubbs’ leadership, the village has also made significant progress in improving local infrastructure and cleanliness. One key initiative has been the revitalization of the village alleys. Through coordinated community clean-up events, residents have removed large amounts of trash and debris, filled multiple dumpsters and restored pride in their shared spaces. This hands-on effort reflects her commitment to fostering a clean, welcoming environment for all.
Housing and revitalization have also been central to Mayor Tubbs’ mission. For years before becoming the mayor, Mayor Tubbs renovated instead of demolishing older homes and buildings; she prioritized restoration and adaptive reuse—transforming neglected structures into viable businesses or comfortable family homes. Recent construction projects have breathed new life into several buildings, including a new bank located across from the mayor’s office. These improvements are part of a broader effort to modernize the village while preserving its historic character.
Making Plans
Mayor Tubbs treats a game plan not as a luxury but as the backbone of governance. A well-constructed plan translates ambition into concrete steps, assigns responsibility, and creates checkpoints that keep the community informed and engaged. It is not rigid for its own sake, but a framework that prioritizes evidence, transparency, and accountability as changes are pursued. Mayor Tubbs recognizes that a strong game plan provides the foundation for consistency and accountability. It gives village leaders, staff, and residents a shared sense of purpose and direction, helping everyone understand what goals are being pursued and how progress will be measured. In a small village, where residents often wear multiple hats and collaboration is key; a clear plan prevents duplication of effort and promotes teamwork across departments and community partners.
The Role of the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress
Mayor Tubbs was introduced to the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress by one of the staff members at an OMEGA meeting. MPP was able to offer Mayor Tubbs help with a stormwater issue that her municipality was having and now is identifying funding and finalizing the details of the project’s second phase. Tubbs said, “Mayors’ Partnership for Progress is instrumental for making connections, and guidance with how to help municipalities.” In the Village of West Lafayette, Mayor Tubbs credits the Mayors’ Partnership for Progress as a driving force behind the community’s recent strides. Describing the organization as “an incredible resource,” the mayor says MPP’s network of experienced local leaders has provided the guidance needed to navigate the often-chaotic realities of small-town governance.
That mentorship, the mayor notes, has translated directly into tangible improvements for residents and businesses alike. When one local business faced setbacks due to a REAP grant freeze, insights from MPP and collaboration among community members helped get the company back on track with incredible support—ultimately leading to a successful grant award. Perhaps the most transformative impact came from a $10,000 grant through MPP to conduct a stormwater study, an effort of years in the making. The study addressed flooding in areas both within and beyond village limits. The mayor emphasizes that while the problem has persisted, MPP’s support helped put a plan in motion, signaling a helpful step toward protecting West Lafayette from worsening rainfall and flooding in the years ahead.
Looking to the Future
Reflecting on her time as mayor, Tubbs takes immense pride in her village and the progress made under her leadership. Her commitment to improving the community is unwavering; she’s constantly exploring new ideas, innovative solutions, and opportunities that can enhance the village’s growth and vitality. Mayor Tubbs’s dedication and drive stem from a deep love for the place she calls home. She doesn’t just see West Lafayette as a village — she sees it as a community full of potential, resilience, and heart. Her hands-on leadership and forward-thinking approach continue to inspire progress, ensuring that the village remains a place where everyone can feel proud to live, work, and belong.