Janelle Kellman
Janelle Kellman | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Sausalito, California | |
| In office 2022–2022 | |
| Member of the Sausalito City Council | |
| Assumed office 2020 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 11, 1973 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education |
|
| Occupation | Attorney, environmental advocate, public official |
Janelle Kellman (born May 11, 1973) is an American politician. She served as Mayor of Sausalito, California in 2022 and is a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election.[1]
2026 Lieutenant Governor campaign
In December 2023, Kellman announced her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of California in the 2026 election.[2][3] Her campaign emphasizes economic development, environmental sustainability, and social equity.[1] She was a featured speaker at New York Climate Week.[4][5] She has also spoken at the Smart City Expo World Congress,[6] Urban Land Institute Spring Meeting,[7] and Net Zero Conference.[8]
Early life and education
Kellman was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 11, 1973, and grew up in a coal-mining town in northeastern Pennsylvania.[9] She earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University, where she played varsity lacrosse and field hockey and served as team captain.[1] She later obtained a Master's in Environmental management from the University of Oxford and a J.D. from Stanford Law School.[1]
Legal and environmental career
Kellman began her career as an attorney at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she worked on tribal water quality and Endangered Species Act compliance.[7] In 2020, she founded the Center for Sea Rise Solutions, a nonprofit addressing sea-level rise and coastal resilience.[1] The group has collaborated with the Port of Barcelona and the World Ocean Council.[1]
Public service and political career
She served on the Sausalito Planning Commission for over a decade, including multiple terms as chair.[7] Elected to the City Council in 2020, she served as mayor in 2022.[10] As mayor, she secured nearly $2 million in coastal resilience funding and led initiatives on housing affordability and homelessness.[11] She serves on the board of Marin Clean Energy and advocates for workforce development in renewable energy and maritime sectors.[7]
Personal life
Kellman is an endurance athlete who has completed over 15 ultramarathons and biked from Washington, D.C. to California.[9] She is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and, during her mayoralty, initiated Sausalito's first LGBTQ+ Pride celebration.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Janelle Kellman". Trellis Group.
- ^ a b Bajko, Matthew S. "Out Sausalito councilmember Kellman runs for Calif. Lt. Governor". Bay Area Reporter.
- ^ "Running, racing and dodging: Janelle Kellman on her bid to be California's next Lieutenant Governor". Los Angeles Blade.
- ^ "California Lt Gov candidate Janelle Kellman is featured speaker at New York Climate Week 2024". NBC4i.
- ^ "California Lt Gov candidate Janelle Kellman is featured speaker at New York Climate Week 2024". Fox40.
- ^ "Janelle Kellman". Smart City Expo World Congress.
- ^ a b c d "Ms. Janelle Kellman – 2025 ULI Spring Meeting". Urban Land Institute.
- ^ "Janelle Kellman – Net Zero Conference".
- ^ a b "Janelle Kellman on Politics, the Environment and Her Work as Mayor". Marin Magazine.
- ^ "Dick Spotswood: Sausalito's Kellman entering 2026 state lieutenant governor race". Marin Independent Journal.
- ^ Dusseault, Ruth (28 October 2024). "Housing, infrastructure grab spotlight among candidates running for Sausalito City Council". Local News Matters.