EVERETT—Slightly over 500 attended an early morning 7 a.m. breakfast on Thursday in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center at the Angel of the Winds Arena to support the re-election of Snohomish County Council Chair Nate Nehring.
“I can’t believe we have over five hundred that thought, ‘I will wake up at 7 a.m. to go to a campaign kick-off breakfast,’” Nehring said, thanking attendees. “I am truly grateful to each and everyone of you for taking the time from your busy schedules to be here this morning and show your support, it just means the world to me. So, thank you all so much.”
Thursday’s event was emceed by political commentator of unDivided and former Emmy Award-winning journalist Brandi Kruse, with special guest speaker former Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney.
Nehring, 29, was first elected in 2017 and then re-elected in 2021 with over 70% of the vote. According to Washington state public disclosure data, Nehring has amassed a campaign war chest of $277,352 as of February’s filing and has secured over 200 endorsements from key community leaders and organizations throughout Washington state.
“Nate Nehring does not compromise his principles for politics,” Fortney said before sharing key moments Nehring’s one vote secured public safety commitments to residents of Snohomish County.
“Nate stood for public safety when not everyone was standing for public safety,” Fortney said elaborating how Nehring was a champion against the “defund the police movement” in Snohomish County.
Also in 2022, Nehring voted in favor authorizing County Executive Dave Somers to sign the 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the County and the Snohomish County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA) on October 18, 2022. Then-Vice-Chair Jared Mead made the motion to approve with then-councilman Nate Nehring seconding to carry the motion forward.
The agreement laid the foundation addressing staffing shortages due to low wages and providing better work-life balance for deputies, DSA President Krajcar told the Lynnwood Times.
Fortney reminded the hundreds of supporters in the room that Nehring led the effort against a proposed countywide 8 percent property tax increase.
Hundreds of residents attended the public hearing on Tuesday, November 13, last year, specifically to voice their opposition to the proposed property tax increase.
Then-council Vice President Nehring, aimed to eliminate the property tax all together however on November 25, the council approved an increase of 2% for two years for a total of 4%, significantly lowering the the initial 8% proposed.
“Taxpayers in Snohomish County have been burdened by ever increasing taxes in recent years,” said Council Vice President Nehring at the hearing. “We can balance our County budget without tax increases while continuing to provide essential services our constituents expect. My amendment does just that by identifying cuts in unnecessary county spending to eliminate the need for a tax increase. Taxpayers have had to tighten the belt with regard to their own personal budgets and government ought to do the same.”
Nehring led the effort to ban heroin injection sites from Snohomish County and also worked with the cities of Arlington and Marysville along with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and Human Services Department to establish the North County law enforcement-embedded social worker program. He also partnered with local school districts, businesses, and labor organizations to develop the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program to serve local students in North Snohomish County by providing them with a career pathway into the skilled trades.
“He has treated everyone in a way throughout his career that ensures they listen to him, and they are open minded,” Kruse shared about how Nehring treats others even those who differ from him on policy. “The way he has related people and the respect he has earned is far more valuable than some sort of loud boisterous politician who thinks they can scream at everyone to get there way.”
Nehring has served as District 1 representative on the Snohomish County Council since 2017. Prior to public office, he was a middle school science teacher and vice chairman of the Stanwood Planning Commission.
He served on the Board of Directors for the Washington State Association of Counties in 2024, has completed the National Association of Counties High Performance Leadership Program, and serves in leadership roles for over a dozen boards and committees throughout Snohomish County and Washington State.
With the scores of elected officials and community leaders attending, a few notable attendees were: Tulalip Tribes Chair Teri Gobin, Arlington Mayor Don Vanney, Granite Falls Mayor Matt Hartman, Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring, Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine, and Sultan Mayor Russell Wiita; community leaders such as Van Dinh Kuno, Executive Director of Refugee & Immigrant Services Northwest; and members of the Western States Carpenters Union.
Council Chair Nehring and his wife, Savannah, are both lifelong residents of North Snohomish County. They currently live in Arlington raising their three kids: Kennedy (6), James (5), and Claire (2). They are both active community members, volunteering through church, youth sports, and local schools.
For more information, visit Councilmember Nehring’s re-election campaign website at www.NateNehring.org.
Author: Mario Lotmore
