A Chat with Mahsa

Interviewer: Thank you for joining us today, Mahsa. Let’s start with a simple question: How do we pronounce your name?

Mahsa (laughs): It’s really quite simple: Mahsa rhymes with NASA. And “Eshghi” is pronounced “Esh-gy”.

Where is your family from, and what brought all of you to the United States?

Like generations of Americans, our journey was propelled by political unrest. My family is Persian, and we are originally from Iran. In 1978, when I was two years old, Iran underwent a cultural revolution and two years later went to war against Iraq. Photos in the news today of children in war-torn Ukraine bring back memories of being a little girl running at the sound of air sirens into a storage room in a basement garage. 

As the war dragged on, life became increasingly difficult for my parents, who held professional jobs. They applied for a family visa to move to the United States, which was finally granted in 1998. But by that time I was an adult, and the family visa did not include me. 

So they moved to the United States without you?

Yes. Again, generations of naturalized Americans going back centuries have faced these same heartbreaking dilemmas. I was extremely fortunate that by the time my parents emigrated, I had graduated from college with a degree in civil engineering, had met Mehdi, my future husband, and was working for a multinational engineering firm. 

On the outside, life was great. Mehdi was pursuing his career in data science and engineering. But the corruption and political unrest were overwhelming. We knew we wanted to follow my parents to the West, and were thrilled when Canada issued us visas in 2004.

Did you plan to settle in Canada?

We hoped to eventually be able to live in the United States because by this time my parents had settled here, and we wanted to set down roots close to them. Also, our professional degrees were not recognized in Canada, so we had to take what work we could find to buy food and pay the rent. 

It is through this lens that I am passionate about wanting to create jobs with family-supporting wages, bring housing costs in line with area incomes, and build economic opportunity for ALL citizens of Camas. 

That’s a great transition to policy questions.  Why are you running for a seat on the City of Camas Council?

Running for City Council is my act of gratitude to a community that has given so much to my family and me. When my parents opened a small business and gas station in downtown Camas – where I am now invested and help guide operations – the community welcomed and supported them. 

Dad is semi-retired now, but my Mom is still out there every day. My two daughters are enrolled in Camas public schools, and are receiving great academic preparation as well as the opportunity to participate in many extracurricular activities that are enriching their lives. 

I’m not running because of political ambition or to play partisan politics. I’m running becauseI believe Camas deserves leadership that prioritizes the needs of THIS community. That builds on the legacy of leaders like Nan Henriksen and Lloyd Halverson who led the Camas through an economic transition from a mostly single-employer mill town to a more diversified economy. 

Today, our task is to recognize the current economic moment and plan for the economic transition that best serves all Camas residents in the future. 

I bring a love for Camas and the energy to do the very best job I can to make our city a place we are all proud to call home.

How will you bring your engineering experience to the challenges our city is facing?

My vision is a Camas where firefighters, teachers, young families and seniors can afford to live; where teens, seniors, and families can walk, bike, and ride on efficient transit systems; and where sustainable growth preserves our natural beauty, from Lacamas Lake to our tree-lined streets.

For the past 20 years I’ve designed roadways and utility systems, balancing client needs with jurisdictional standards. I’ve led street improvement projects and ensured compliance with city standards, saving taxpayer dollars through efficient planning.

On the Camas Planning Commission, I’ve advocated for zoning that supports diverse housing options, like urban villages, to make Camas affordable for all life stages. 

My vision builds on Camas’ achievements — our top-rated schools, vibrant downtown, and natural beauty — while addressing challenges like traffic congestion and infrastructure issues with practical, data-driven solutions.

What have you learned about leadership through your engineering work?

I’ve learned the importance of reaching out to diverse groups and encouraging them to share not only their concerns, but also their hopes and dreams in order to build consensus and bring forth a collaborative solution.

Camas needs councilors who will address issues head on. No hidden agenda. No political partisanship. Just a desire to carve a path that is best for the citizens of Camas. My record of delivering projects under budget and ahead of schedule is the leadership Camas deserves.

Thank you very much for spending some time with us.

Thank YOU. Our team’s grassroots efforts are sowing seeds of support. It’s an exciting time for us and for the citizens of Camas.