EVERETT—Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin held a kickoff event for her re-election campaign on Thursday, November 21, at the Eight Ball Cafe in Everett.
Notable attendees included Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, State Senator Mark Mullet, State Representative Julio Cortes, and Lynnwood City Council Vice President Julieta Altamirano-Crosby.
“It was an honor to attend the Re-Elect Mayor Cassie Franklin event alongside outstanding leaders and advocates. A special thank you to Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, Senator Mark Mullet, and Representative Julio Cortes for hosting this inspiring gathering,” said Altamirano-Crosby. “Mayor Cassie Franklin’s visionary leadership continues to drive progress in economic growth and community well-being. I fully support Mayor Cassie Franklin and her continued efforts to lead Everett with vision and dedication.”
Cassie Franklin made history on January 1, 2018, when she was elected as the City of Everett’s first ever female Mayor. Her top priorities since have been violence prevention, behavioral health and creating a prosperous city by ensuring Everett’s ongoing financial wellbeing and the success of all of its businesses.
Franklin says she has been committed to open, transparent government, making sure the City’s workforce and volunteers are reflective of Everett’s diverse community, increasing public safety and finding appropriate and effective ways to respond to street-level issues and addiction.
These priorities can be seen in her several directives issued while serving as Mayor, which have prioritized violent crime; housing; behavioral health; climate action; economic development; community engagement; the City of Everett’s budget deficit; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Separate to her responsibilities as Mayor, Franklin founded and co-chairs the bipartisan group Mayors and Business leaders for Public Safety, serves on the Puget Sound Regional Council, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County Board of Trustees, the Executive Council of the Greater Seattle Partners and on the Sound Transit Board of Directors. She also launched a Mayor’s Drug Crisis Task Force and is a member of Mayors Against LGBTQ Discrimination and active with the Mayor’s Innovation Project.
Prior to becoming Mayor of Everett Franklin served on the Everett City Council from 2015 until 2018 where she chaired the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Board and the council’s Public Safety Committee. In 2016 she was appointed to the Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee for the National League of Cities.
From 2011-2017, Franklin was CEO of Cocoon House, a nonprofit that provides outreach and housing for homeless and at-risk young people. From that position, she collaborated with leaders across the region to develop best practices for serving at-risk youth and preventing homelessness.
An active community volunteer, Franklin is a past president of the South Everett Mukilteo Rotary Club and has served on a variety of local boards.
Franklin holds a bachelor’s Degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR, and completed her graduate studies program in psychology at the University of Munich in Germany, specializing in family systems therapy.
She is being opposed by former Everett City Councilman Scott Murphy. Though the Mayoral seat is nonpartisan both candidates are Democrats.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
