EVERETT — As a new leader prepares take the helm of Snohomish County government, he’ll be facing some of the same old problems.
County Councilman Dave Somers won the county executive’s job in Tuesday’s election with a pledge to seek solutions. Incumbent John Lovick conceded Wednesday.
The executive-elect’s first challenge even before changing jobs is drafting next year’s budget. Then he’ll turn his attention to what to do about replacing the county courthouse. Beyond that, he wants to focus on planning for a surge of population growth and convincing Sound Transit to connect light rail to Paine Field and north Everett.
As he takes on those goals, Somers will have to smooth over friction with other Democrats. Many are upset that he took on and beat Lovick, who was backed by the party establishment.
“Even people who doubt me or didn’t support my candidacy, I’m excited to work with them to make the county successful,” Somers said last week.
Somers is scheduled to be sworn in as executive in early January. Then it’ll come time to put campaign promises into action.
Somers said he decided to challenge Lovick in May because he didn’t think the incumbent was doing a good job. As he talked about fragile county finances, Lovick insisted that things weren’t so bad.
Somers’ campaign managed to attract support from prominent Republicans. Among those who endorsed him were former County Councilman John Koster, former Sheriff Rick Bart and former state Attorney General Rob McKenna.
Going forward, Somers pledged to put good governance over machine politics. Partisanship, he said, shouldn’t play a part in running day-to-day county business.
“I’m not really a fan of what goes on in Olympia and Washington DC, where much of the energy goes into politics rather than into solving problems,” Somers said. “None of our jobs, whether on the County Council or the county executive should be a political popularity contest. They’re real jobs with real problems to solve.”
Somers plans to use former executive Bob Drewel’s administration as a model. They plan to meet soon. Drewel was elected executive in 1991 and remained in office until 2003. He’s now the interim chancellor of WSU North Puget Sound.
Communication, trust
A top priority for Somers is improving communications between branches of government. Councilman Terry Ryan, a supporter, agreed.
“We have to re-establish some trust here,” Ryan said. “There was a real lack of trust in the information that the council was receiving on several subjects and we can’t have that.”
Ryan listed the county courthouse project, last year’s budget and raises that Lovick awarded to top managers as problems that were worsened by breakdowns in communication.
“I think there’s a real opportunity here to work with the executive’s office and to work together,” Ryan said.
A key decision will be Somers’ choice in a deputy executive.
“There have been some mistakes made in the past and I do not intend to make the same mistakes,” Somers said.
For much of Lovick’s tenure, Deputy Executive Mark Ericks butted heads with a majority of the council members, who accused him of failing to communicate on the now-abandoned $162 million courthouse project and other key issues. Ericks, who retired in September, also was the subject of a workplace investigation initiated by council members over inappropriate workplace comments.
Similar problems were rife under Lovick’s predecessor, Aaron Reardon. The young executive’s ego played a big role in the dysfunction, but so did the secretive and combative style of Reardon’s deputy executive, Mark Soine. Soine resigned after an independent review found the county had a pattern of ignoring misconduct and mishandling personnel investigations.
Communications between the executive’s office and the council improved tremendously after Reardon appointed former Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson as his deputy. However, he wasn’t able to keep his boss from melting under the weight of scandals.
Somers said he’s looking for somebody with experience in county and city governments, and preferably private business as well.
“The key is somebody who’s knowledgeable, energetic and can work with people,” he said.
Somers didn’t offer up any hints on whom he’s considering as his deputy.
Council vacancy
Conversations already are taking place on who in the Democratic Party might succeed Somers in the council’s District 5.
State Rep. Hans Dunshee, of Snohomish, and state Sen. Steve Hobbs, of Lake Stevens, are the names mentioned most often as potential appointees.
“I am thinking about it,” Dunshee said. “This is my home. It would be fun to come home and work on local issues.”
It won’t be an easy decision. Just weeks ago Dunshee was named chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, putting him in the center of budget negotiations in the 2016 session and beyond.
“I did commit to my caucus that I would do it this session,” he said. “I feel bound to finish out the session and negotiate this budget.”
Dunshee could legally serve as a state lawmaker and county councilman at the same time. And he acknowledged that might occur should the council appointment be made before the legislative session ends on schedule in early March.
Though Hobbs has been mentioned as another contender, he earlier said he’d like to run for lieutenant governor in 2016.
Hobbs brings heavy baggage as Reardon’s closest political ally. Also, the county staffer whose on-the-job political dirty tricks hastened Reardon’s downfall got his start working with Hobbs. Kevin Hulten was Hobbs’ Olympia aide before going to work for Reardon.
Snohomish Mayor Karen Guzak, whose re-election bid clung to a 56-vote lead Friday, is eying the appointment as well.
“It’s an intriguing option for me,” she said.
Another potential contender is Guy Palumbo, of Snohomish, who serves on the county planning commission and the Fire District 7 board.
“Yes I’m definitely interested in the appointment for Dave Somers’ seat,” Palumbo said. “I’m talking it over with my family and I hope to have an announcement shortly.”
That may not be the only council position that changes.
Councilman Brian Sullivan’s re-election has been tight. The incumbent, who is seeking a third term in District 2, switched places with opponent Greg Tisdel during vote counts this week. By Friday night, Sullivan had widened his lead to 450 votes.
The results of Tuesday’s election are to be certified Nov. 24.
Jerry Cornfield contributed to this report. Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.
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