Meet Janssen

Janssen Evelyn is an experienced public servant, father, lawyer, and longtime community advocate running to bring people first leadership to the Howard County Council. A proud District 4 resident raising his family in Hickory Ridge, Janssen has built his life and career around strengthening communities and expanding opportunity.

Janssen’s story began in Barbados before his family immigrated to Maryland when he was a child. In their early years, his family initially lived with relatives while his parents worked to establish a stable foundation. Their example taught him resilience, humility, and the belief that service to others is the heart of a strong community. Guided by their example and supported by  educators who saw potential in him, Janssen went on to graduate from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Washington and Lee School of Law. 

In his parents’ later years, Janssen and his family stepped into the role of caregiver. That experience deepened his understanding of the needs and challenges older adults face and how much families and loved ones shoulder in caring for them. It is why he is committed to expanding access, promoting independence, closing disparities, and ensuring every resident can age with dignity and remain active, engaged, and connected in the community they know and love.

With perspective shaped by lived experience, Janssen understands the tough choices families face. He believes life in Howard County should lift people up, not weigh them down. As a parent of two Howard County Public School students, his commitment to the county’s future is both personal and purposeful. Janssen and his wife, Sonya Funna Evelyn, are raising their two daughters in Hickory Ridge, where they are deeply rooted in the District 4 community.

For more than a decade, Janssen has held legal and senior leadership roles across local government in Prince George’s, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. He began his public service in Prince George’s County before joining Howard County, where he served in the Howard County Office of Law before becoming an Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, where he assisted in  daily operations, guided major departments, and played a key role in developing the county’s first trade apprenticeship program to expand pathways for working families. He helped lead Howard County’s internal COVID-19 response, drafting telework policies, establishing workplace safety protocols, preparing employee communications, and ensuring facilities were ready for a safe return.

He now serves as a Deputy Chief Administrative Officer in Anne Arundel County, where he leads work on economic development, housing, and land-use policy. Janssen also previously served as the inaugural Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability, where he implemented Maryland’s new police reform systems, and strengthened transparency and trust between the community and law enforcement. Across every role, his leadership has been defined by listening, collaboration, and delivering meaningful results for residents.

Janssen’s commitment to service extends well beyond government. He is President of the Board of the Howard County Conservancy and serves as Vice Chair of the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights. He is also a board member of Columbia Community Care, Member-at-Large of the Howard County NAACP and a former member of both the Hickory Ridge Village Board and the Howard Progressive Project. Through his work on community gardens, environmental and climate justice, and food access programs, he has seen how local leadership and neighbors working together can reduce hunger, educate the community, and build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. A dedicated neighbor and volunteer, he brings people together with a listen first approach because he believes the strongest solutions come from welcoming diverse voices to the table.

Janssen is ready to put his experience and deep community roots to work for District 4. He is driven by a commitment to strong schools, safe and connected neighborhoods, attainable housing, and a sustainable environment.  Above all, he believes a thriving Howard County is one where every resident has the space to grow, contribute, and belong.