Edmonds councilmember Deanna Dawson is leaving office, and Edmonds, for a new job in Washington, D.C.

Dawson has served as a councilmember for seven years, winning her first election in 2001. She was the council’s president in 2006.

In her resignation announcement Nov. 25, Dawson called her 2001 election victory “the proudest moment in my life.” She called her experience in city government “humbling, inspiring, frustrating…and overwhelmingly positive.”

She said her new job will be as director of the federal courts program for Justice at Stake, a non-profit organization working to keep American courts fair, impartial and independent.

Her resignation will be effective Dec. 31, she said.

Dawson played an important regional role this year, lobbying to extend light rail into Snohomish County as a member of Sound Transit’s board of directors.

Dawson was one of two Snohomish County swing votes that could have blocked the measure before it was even sent to voters. Transit observers believed the final package included sweeteners like express buses in order to win Dawson’s, and County Executive Aaron Reardon’s, support.

Dawson will also be leaving Snohomish County government, where she served as an executive director, and an important advisor to Reardon.

In Edmonds, Dawson has been a consistent supporter of maintaining current building height limits.

Officials and community members will miss Dawson, they said.

Speaking after her resignation announcement, they hailed Dawson for her smarts.

“As a council person, and as a council observer, it is my estimation that you are certainly the brightest of any who have served since I have been watching,” current councilmember DJ Wilson told her.

One of the council’s loudest and most consistent critics, former councilmember Roger Hertrich, said he was disappointed Dawson was leaving.

“You have been one of the greater values to this city of any council person that I have known for a long time,” Hertrich told Dawson. “I appreciate all of your efforts, and good luck.”

Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com