Sequim’s deputy mayor is now taking the lead of council meetings.
A majority of city councilors voted 4-3 for Rachel Anderson to be mayor at the first council meeting of the year on Jan. 12. She defeated now former mayor Brandon Janisse with councilor Kelly Burger nominating Anderson, and councilor Harmony Rutter nominating Janisse.
Anderson, first appointed to the city council in 2021, said that she’s “deeply honored by the nomination.”
“I would say that in the last couple years, I have tried really, really hard to step up and try and bridge any gaps,” she said. “I have tried to stay engaged and involved.”
Anderson, a lifelong Sequim resident and avid community volunteer, said the mayor must be engaged and meet people where they are, value small town values, remain unbiased, and balance moving forward with the digital age while remembering where we came from.
She added that the city council should make data-driven decisions and hear everyone’s input too.
Janisse was elected to the Sequim City Council in 2017 and served as deputy mayor and then mayor. He and Anderson ran in 2021 with now three former city councilors in a joint campaign seeking change following the forced resignation of former city manager Charlie Bush, and other perceived issues such as efforts not to comply with county COVID-19 health provisions.
Photo courtesy City of Sequim/ Nicole Hartman, appointed to the Sequim City Council in April 2024 and elected to the position in November 2025, was appointed deputy mayor by fellow city councilors on Jan. 12.
Sworn in
Both Anderson and Janisse were sworn in to office to start the council meeting along with new councilor Pete Tjemsland, a retired City of Sequim worker. All three ran unopposed along with Burger and councilor Nicole Hartman, who also ran unopposed in the November General Election. They were sworn into office in December.
Councilors agreed to name Hartman, who was appointed to council in April 2024, as deputy mayor in a 5-2 vote over Janisse, who voted for her.
She told councilors she intends to continue pursuing training with the Association of Washington Cities, and that she enjoys the work and is looking forward to growing along with the City of Sequim.
Harmony Rutter declined a nomination for deputy mayor saying it wasn’t her time yet.
According to the city’s website, Sequim has been a council-manager form of government since 1995 with the council’s principal job to make policy. They collectively adopt the city’s budget, establish policies, and provide a vision and goals to the city manager.
Council seats are nonpartisan and publicly voted for by city residents to four-year terms. Mayor and deputy mayor are appointed by fellow councilors to two-year terms.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Pete Tjemsland, a former staffer for the City of Sequim for 35 years through 2024, is sworn into office as Sequim’s newest city councilor on Jan. 12.
New councilor
Being on city council is something Tjemsland, who worked for the city for 35 years, said he’s thought about for a long time.
He started as a laborer, and held a number of other positions leading up to his appointment as utilities manager in 2008. He served in that role until his retirement in June 2024
Tjemsland said he’s excited to be starting with the city council and wanted to still be involved in the community in some capacity.
“I thought I’d keep contributing,” he said.
Tjemsland replaces Vicki Lowe, who ran with Anderson and Janisse in 2021. She endorsed Tjemsland after she opted not to run for reelection to council position No. 3.
Tjemsland noted that one of his accomplishments prior to his retirement with the city was working as construction manager for the $10 million Water Reclamation Facility upgrade project in 2008 to reduce environmental impact and improve area water quality. He also served as Chief Equipment Operator with the U.S. Navy Seabees from 1982-2003, and was deployed five times, including assignments in Beirut
Along with civic service, Tjemsland said he’s busy hunting, fishing, crabbing, and seeing his three grandchildren with his wife Ann.
Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Brandon Janisse, Sequim’s mayor from 2024-2025, is sworn into office again as a city councilor by city clerk Heather Robley on Jan. 12.
