Chelsea Rudd is a new leader who can help the Port of Edmonds move in the best direction for all of us.

Shining light on the dark parts of our nation’s history doesn’t diminish the good. It prepares us to do better and avoid repeating the bloody lessons of our past.

But perhaps a start is committing to nonviolence. Not just violence with a gun, but violence with our words. Dialogue can’t blossom under duress. Democracy cannot flourish without peace.

Chelsea Rudd, candidate for Port of Edmonds Commissioner, District 1, is hosting a campaign kickoff from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24 at Brigid’s Bottleshop, 188 Sunset Ave. S., Edmonds.

Talking about trees as our ally rather than an obstacle to be rid of could go a long way towards reframing the conversation.

KEV brought forth solutions to a problem that city leadership has not yet been able to solve themselves. And they did it by reaching people in the community not often heard from. Bravo!

“We had this problem we had to solve together,” Rudd said. “We had to save our park. It became a question of how do you reach a lot of people in a short amount of time, and I think we all realized that there really wasn’t a platform that existed for us to do that.”

“The port plays a vital role in shaping our waterfront, local economy and public access to green spaces, responsibilities I take to heart,” Rudd said. “I believe Edmonds deserves a representative who listens, acts with integrity, and champions the shared interests of our community and environment.”

Since the April 1 council meeting that resulted in a two-and-a-half hour public comment session, Edmonds residents have been mobilizing to find other ways to address the city’s budget crisis. One Facebook group, Edmonds Activated, gathered 700 members in one week, said Chelsea Rudd, one of the group’s moderators.

Audience applause greeted the Edmonds City Council Monday night after councilmembers…withdrew Comprehensive Plan amendments related to potential city property sales, including Hummingbird Hill Park and the Frances Anderson Center.

Efforts to discredit residents is how citizens lose faith in their government.