MUKILTEO—Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced Tuesday that the county stands ready for a sustainable and successful future, even as rapid growth, budget constraints and the scars of natural disasters test its foundations. Speaking at the annual County Update before 200 attendees at Boeing’s Future of Flight, Somers blended updates on major initiatives with vivid examples of community resilience, then urged collaboration to navigate fiscal realities while protecting core services.
“Out of this turmoil, we can build something stronger and more sustainable,” Somers said. “This is a disruption, but the ecosystem we live in is truly something special. I do not want to minimize our challenges. But we can, and will, find the opportunities to grow from this disturbance.”
The address was hosted by the Economic Alliance Snohomish County and presented by Boeing in partnership with Coastal Community Bank, North Sound Media, Community Transit, The Daily Herald, and Snohomish County PUD.
After thanking partners and attendees, Somers shared milestones in sustainable aviation and transit. The Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator launched in January, uniting research, industry, tribal, state and county leaders in what Somers called “the most ambitious and comprehensive sustainable aviation fuels initiative of its kind.” This summer, Phase 1 of a Sustainable Aviation Fuels site at Paine Field will open to collect, sample and distribute fuel for broader market use, with Phase 2 research and development plans advancing.
“This is an investment in the aerospace and aviation industry, which is one of the most challenging industries for addressing carbon emissions,” Somers said. “Aerospace also is an economic driver for our county, so this is an investment in current and future jobs. Not only does it support existing career paths in aviation; it adds new opportunities related to sustainable energy. Finally, it’s an investment in the health of our environment, which is a crucial part of what makes Snohomish County such a great place to be.”
On transit, Somers noted the March opening of the 2 Line’s Crosslake Connection — the world’s first train on a floating bridge — and the Sound Transit Board’s recent adoption of an updated, affordable System Plan. That plan, he said, preserves the ST3 package and keeps light rail expansion on track to Everett despite budget shortfalls.
“To every Snohomish County resident who has taken the time to learn more, submit comments, attend town halls, or participate in any way as we’ve gathered feedback about the future of Sound Transit, I want to thank you for your time,” Somers said. “Your feedback has been important in moving this forward.”
Somers then shifted focus to the county’s foundational services, introducing a two-minute video montage titled “Foundations” that showcased the breadth of county operations. He returned to the stage impressed anew by the scope of the work, then illustrated its human dimension through stories of county employees and residents stepping up in crisis.
One story involved Ray Stephanson, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance Snohomish County, who had already delivered sponsor remarks earlier in the program. In February, Stephanson was walking to work in Everett when a man ahead of him collapsed. Stephanson called 911, followed instructions to monitor breathing and performed CPR when advised. Only later did he learn the man was suffering a heart attack — and that he was the same nurse who had cared for Stephanson’s father a decade earlier at the hospital.
“Ray, thank you for showing us that young guys like you can be counted on to step up when someone needs a hand,” Somers said. “This is Snohomish County — a community where people help one another and our connections run deep.”
Somers next turned to the county Health Department’s response to a measles outbreak that began when a family from South Carolina unknowingly carried the virus into the region over the holidays. More than 30 staff members devoted hundreds of hours to contact tracing, guidance, vaccinations and coordination with providers, schools and community groups. The case count reached 14 before stopping in February; the outbreak was declared over in early April. One in five Health Department staff played a direct role, with many continuing prevention work.
“They do that work because health is part of the foundation of Snohomish County,” Somers said.
Public safety formed another pillar. In April, Snohomish County Sheriff’s Deputies Shaw and Lang responded to a domestic violence call and discovered the 22-year-old woman involved had been trafficked across state lines since age 17. They connected her to domestic violence advocates, helped her gather belongings and board a flight to reunite with family, and alerted the FBI to launch an investigation.
“Our deputies do this work because public safety and help for those who are vulnerable are part of the foundation of Snohomish County,” Somers said.
He then recounted the county’s response to record December flooding that inundated 36,000 acres — roughly 56 square miles — and prompted evacuation orders for nearly 800 people. It marked the third-most intensive activation in the Emergency Management Department’s 20-year history, behind only the COVID-19 response and the 2014 SR-530 landslide. Staff from 21 agencies logged more than 2,500 hours in the Emergency Operations Center, with operations running daily from Dec. 9 to Dec. 26 except Christmas Day. Disaster assistance centers remain open.
The flooding hit agriculture hard. Chinook Farms and its tenants alone absorbed more than $200,000 in unrecoverable losses. County Agriculture Coordinator Linda Neunzig helped secure a partnership with Korean ag-tech accelerator Brink, which donated a dozen rolls of advanced nursery film to affected farmers. The film regulates temperatures more effectively than traditional coverings, promising healthier plants, higher yields and improved working conditions. The company’s CEO traveled from Korea in April to assist with installation and monitoring.
“The team that assisted with flood response knows that a resilient community is part of the foundation of Snohomish County,” Somers said.
Turning to long-term planning, Somers highlighted the retirement later this month of Surface Water Management Planning Manager Erik Stockdale, who joined the county 10 years ago after two decades with the state Department of Ecology. Stockdale helped advance multi-decade estuary restoration efforts, including the completed Smith Island project in the Snohomish River Estuary near Everett. That initiative, part of a broader regional vision balancing fish habitat, farmland, flood control and infrastructure, has already eased pressure during high-water events. Future projects such as Shinglebolt Slough along the Skykomish River near Sultan will further restore habitat, protect farmland and provide flood relief.
Somers, a former fisheries biologist, framed these efforts through the lens of disturbance ecology — the study of how ecosystems recover from floods, fires and other disruptions. He drew a direct parallel to the county’s current budget pressures.
“The thing about disturbances is that they hurt in the moment,” Somers said. “They are challenging, sometimes devastating. But they also open up a lot of new possibilities. From every disturbance, a new habitat can grow, and new life can flourish. It’s something I’ve been reflecting on as my team and I begin work on the next biennial budget for Snohomish County.”
Costs have risen sharply while revenues have not kept pace, he explained. Construction expenses increased about 70 percent from 2000 to 2020, then another 70 percent from 2020 to 2025. Inflation, uncertain federal funding and unfunded state mandates have compounded the strain, creating a structural deficit. The county has already cut internally: Public Works reduced operating costs by $10 million annually and delayed $100 million in projects, yet a $9 million gap remains to maintain roads and bridges, retain staff and avoid losing $66 million in external grants that require local matches.
A recently established Transportation Benefit District offers one bridge: a proposed $20 annual car-tab fee on vehicles in unincorporated areas, which would close $6 million of the gap. Somers called on the County Council to approve it promptly while longer-term solutions are debated.
“I urge Council to adopt that revenue option while they continue to discuss long-term funding strategies,” Somers said. “We have heard broad support from the community for the TBD. While the goal is to have lasting solutions that more fully resolve the funding gap, we do not have the luxury of doing nothing in the interim.”
He also plans to propose a Justice Fund later this year, drawing dedicated sales tax revenue to support the law and justice system, which consumes about three-quarters of the county’s flexible general-fund dollars. Reductions have already begun across departments, he stressed, with spending cuts preceding any new revenue requests focused on transportation and public safety.
After the budget discussion, Somers pivoted to brighter developments, screening a video preview of the New Start Centers — converted former motels that will offer bridge housing and wraparound services to help people exit homelessness.
“These converted former motels will provide bridge housing and wraparound services to help people exit homelessness and give them exactly what the name suggests: A new start,” Somers said, inviting the audience to an opening celebration for the Edmonds center on June 29 and noting a similar event for Everett this summer.
He thanked partners YWCA Seattle/King/Snohomish and The Salvation Army Everett, whose representatives were present.
Just a day earlier, the Lynnwood Crisis Care Center held its grand opening, providing an alternative to emergency rooms or jails for people in mental health or substance-use crises. The county contributed $6 million for construction and operations, supplemented by state capital funds.
These investments matter even more, Somers said, amid federal uncertainties affecting the Continuum of Care program, which supports permanent housing and rental assistance for hundreds of vulnerable residents. State legislation passed this year, backed by Sen. Robinson, Rep. Berg and others, granted flexibility in local housing dollars to maintain services.
Somers also pointed to upcoming celebrations that will draw visitors and energy to the county. Everett will host official FIFA World Cup fan-zone watch parties in a couple of weeks, with a countywide soccer-ball buoy scavenger hunt organized by the Snohomish County Arts Commission. Giant decorated buoys, one in each of the five council districts, offer photo opportunities and discounts at local businesses via a small-business passport.
On infrastructure, Somers noted that more than 12,000 county residents previously lacked reliable high-speed internet. Federal recovery dollars have funded partnerships with Ziply Fiber and the state Broadband Office to connect about 4,500 households along Highway 530, 1,000 near Index off Highway 2, and 250 along the Mountain Loop Highway near Verlot. Outreach ambassadors are helping residents sign up.
Finally, Somers looked ahead to the nation’s 250th birthday next month. He encouraged meaningful local observances that honor the county’s place in America’s ongoing story.
“It’s a great chance to reflect on what 250 years of America means here, in this magnificent corner of the world with its rich history of native cultures that nurtured and honored this land long before the United States was founded,” he said. “We are still writing America’s story. I may be biased, but I believe Snohomish County has an important part in the next chapter.”
Notable attendees at Tuesday’s event included: Snohomish County PUD Commissioner Julieta Altamirano-Crosby, Mountlake Terrace Mayor Steve Woodard, Snohomish County Councilman Jared Mead, Snohomish County Councilwoman Megan Dunn, Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine, Arlington Mayor Don Vanney, Snohomish County PUD Commission Sid Logan, Washington State Sen. Marko Liias, Snohomish County Councilman Strom Peterson, Snohomish Mayor Aaron Hoffman, and Lynnwood City Councilwoman Derica Escamilla.
About Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers
Somers won the 2016 general election to become the fifth Executive, succeeding John Lovick. As Executive, he oversees Snohomish County government, managing 14 diverse departments (including Paine Field Airport, Emergency Management, Health, Human Services, Public Works, Medical Examiner, Conservation and Natural Resources, and Planning and Development Services). His priorities include fiscal accountability, responsible stewardship of public resources, regional partnerships, improved customer service, sustainable finances, and protecting vulnerable community members. He has championed agriculture and sustainable development to preserve the county’s quality of life while supporting growth.
During his tenure, the county’s population grew significantly from about 740,000 in 2016 to approximately 853,000 by 2025. He is advocate for keeping the county as the world’s premier aerospace manufacturing hub, while navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, job fluctuations, and impacts from tariffs.
Somers serves as chair of the Sound Transit Board of Directors and is the President of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) Executive Board. He is a board member of the National Association of Counties and County Executives in America. He has received many recognitions for his service, including the Henry M. Jackson Award for exemplary community service and commitment to regional business interests.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
