For those who remember Jay Ash as the tall teenager at Chelsea High School, it was clear early on that Jay was not just physically taller than his peers, but also carried a presence that set him apart (though his height of 6′-7″ certainly didn’t hurt).
Jay had a strong sense of purpose and integrity, evident not only on the basketball court, where he excelled for Chelsea High and Clark University, but in every aspect of his life. His level of maturity and insight was rare for someone his age, distinguishing him from the average college-bound student.
These traits became even more pronounced after he graduated, when Jay joined the office of State Representative Richard A. Voke. He quickly became a key member of Voke’s team as Richie advanced through the House ranks to become Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
During that time, it became clear that Jay was naturally drawn to public service. His passion for helping others, especially his desire to give back to his hometown, positioned him among those who strive to improve the lives of people in their communities.
It was therefore a natural and fitting step for Jay to become our City Manager. His integrity, experience, and commitment to the office he held made him the obvious choice for the position, and his years in the role have proven the soundness of that decision.
We leave it to others to list the many achievements that Chelsea has made during Jay’s time as City Manager — we will only note that we were honored as an All-American City in 2014 — but it is safe to say that for those who witnessed Chelsea fall into receivership, its remarkable recovery under Jay Ash’s leadership has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Indeed, there is no greater tribute we can offer Jay than to place him among the city’s most distinguished public servants, alongside figures such as his mentor Richie Voke, Tom Birmingham, and Andrew P. Quigley, all of whom made significant contributions to the city they called home.
We know that every Chelsea resident shared a deep sense of pride when Jay, one of our own, was named by Governor-elect Charlie Baker as his first Cabinet appointment, serving as Secretary of Housing and Economic Development.
Jay Ash will be difficult to replace, but we are confident that Chelsea will remain a top priority for him as he takes on his new responsibilities at the state level. We wish Jay the best in his new role and have no doubt that he will achieve great things for our state.