Bob Edwards is a third-generation Seattle native and an Eastside resident. He graduated from Bellevue High School and attended the University of Washington, graduating with degrees in physics and aeronautical engineering. He worked for Boeing in the defense area before becoming an investment analyst.

Bob was elected to the Renton City Council in 1989 and re-elected twice. While serving as a City Councilmember, he also served as a member of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority, helping to improve water quality and habitat, as well as the Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board and the Growth Management Planning Council, serving as Co-Chair from 1995 to 2000.

Bob was first elected to the Port Commission in 1999, despite being outspent by a 2-1 margin and re-elected comfortably in 2003 with 64 percent of the vote, the highest total of any Port Commissioner this decade. His colleagues elected him President of the Commission in 2002 and 2005.

As a member of the Port, Bob has served on the Audit Committee, working to find increased efficiencies in how the Port operates.

While he has served on the Port Commission, Bob has served on a wide variety of boards and organizations tasked with improving our region’s transportation, economy, international trade, growth management and environmental protection.

As President of the Puget Sound Regional Council in 2000 and 2002, he was responsible for helping to coordinate regional growth and transportation efforts with cities and counties throughout the Central Puget Sound region.

He has sat on the advisory committees for I-405, SR 509 and Hwy 520, working to come up with solutions for some of our region’s most congested choke points.

Since 2006, Bob has served as Vice Chair of Port Jobs, a non-profit organization designed to connect economically disadvantaged communities with living wage jobs. To date, over 7,000 individuals have found employment through this organization.

In 2004 he served as President of the Washington Public Ports Association and is now a Trustee.

He is a strong supporter of the expansion of international trade and is a member of the Washington Council on International Trade executive committee. He also works to expand ties and cooperative ventures between the Port and suburban communities, including a leadership role on the South King County Economic Development Initiative.

Bob and his wife, Nancy, have two children. They currently live on the Eastside.