Janelle Cass on Sunday announced her campaign to retain her seat as Port of Edmonds Commissioner, District 1. Appointed in 2023, she said she brings a strong record of leadership, public service and community involvement to the position.
Cass was appointed in 2023 to the District 1 seat after then-Port Commissioner Angela Harris resigned to take over as Port executive director. She has one opponent so far in the race, Chelsea Rudd.
The Port of Edmonds has five commissioners, and three of those seats are up for election this year.
Cass holds a degree in civil and environmental engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy. After completing her Air Force service, she served in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an environmental engineer, supporting major infrastructure projects along the Western States and in Pacific Island ports. In this role, she said she brought together diverse and often competing interests — including tribal leaders, local residents, environmental agencies, labor unions, airport authorities, and airlines — to find common ground.
In addition to serving on the Port Commission, Cass serves on the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce Board and the Edmonds Tree Board.
“It has been an honor to team with the Port’s excellent staff and my fellow commissioners,” Cass said. “We’ve made significant progress on key initiatives, including the Port’s Strategic Plan and securing federal, state, and community support for critical infrastructure projects such as the Port Walk and Sea Wall replacement and the mid-marina breakwater maintenance.
“I look forward to continuing this important work—keeping the Port on a course that strengthens infrastructure, fosters economic opportunity, and protects the environment,” she said.
Cass said she is dedicated to closely listening to the community and working hard to represent their needs, pointing to her involvement in the City of Edmonds’ waterfront visioning process. She pledges to prioritize robust community engagement as a foundation for future Port planning.
For more information, visit JanelleCass.Com or email Vote@JanelleCass.com
Dedicated and passionate. Janelle will provide strong leadership in making the best decisions for the community.
I’ve known Janelle for 3+ years and find her knowledge pertaining to community matters extensive. That coupled with her ability to bring people who have differing viewpoints together make her a valuable asset to our community. I support Janelle for retaining her seat as Port of Edmonds Commissioner, District 1.
Janelle is focused and reasoned. She is not impulsive but always thinks through the issue at hand with a cool engineer’s rationality and comes up with an achievable plan. She has an uncanny way of pulling people together to solve problems in a way I wish we will all learn. She builds up and never tears down. She is always curious. Janelle pursues knowledge and isn’t afraid to ask questions for clarity, gentle challenge, and understanding. When she learns someone needs help she offers her knowledge and her resources without reserve.
I will absolutely vote for Janelle.
Janelle, say it isn’t so. You are desperately needed on the City Council. Seriously, good luck and I hope you retain your position. The Port and the natural environment are the best things about Edmonds.
I am happy to support Janelle Cass for Port Commissioner! I serve with her on the Edmonds Chamber board and know how dedicated she is to our local businesses and community. Janelle has already proven herself to be a thoughtful, hardworking leader who listens to the community and delivers results. Her focus on strategic planning, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship makes her the right choice for Edmonds!
Thanks Janelle, for your willingness to continue making the Port of Edmonds one of the best in our state. We need your experience and knowledge working for us in Edmonds and our current environment. You have my vote and support.
I am happy to see that Janelle Cass intends to run again for Port of Edmonds Commissioner, Position 1.
I support her because her field of study gives her a unique perspective into the environmental and sustainability issues particular to Edmonds.
Her career brings specific knowledge in infrastructure construction on water, and her experience with resolving disputes brought upon by conflicting interests among federal, local, residential and tribal entities make her uniquely qualified to best evaluate issues in our area, where most of these entities already have a seat at a table.
I’ve known Janelle for the last five years, and am always impressed by her thorough knowledge of the issues, dedication to public service, and her respect towards the people she serves. I could not think of a more engaged and a better candidate. Go Janelle!!!
This is a no-brainer!
We couldn’t wish for a more qualified and experienced candidate for Port Commissioner (Position 1) than Janelle Cass.
It’s not just her successful career experience in environmental engineering that makes her the best candidate. Janelle takes a holistic approach to finding viable solutions that are grounded in facts, given balanced and thoughtful consideration, and always supported by critical analysis. She’s smart, and I really like smart!
To top it all off, she’s a wonderful human being.
Janelle has my vote!
Janelle has my vote as she walks the walk and listens to citizens to make common sense decisions. We need more public servants that are environmentally conscious as Edmonds has a unique topography being a coastal town with the largest near-shore estuary from Seattle to Everett. The Port Commissioners have a unique jurisdiction and specific goals and Janelle understands that mission. She also is willing to work with Council on land use issues as it relates to the District. Thank you, Janelle, for your public service.
Janelle is exceptional in her ability to see issues clearly and she is incredibly capable of coming up with common sense solutions. She is one of the most level headed, calm and concise people I’ve ever met. Janelle looks at the big picture and the long term. She is not short sighted in her approach and is the epitome of endeavoring to leave something better than when she found it. She is not complacent nor will she settle. She loves Edmonds and has alway strived to serve our wonderful community well.