Susanna Johnson has resume, vision for job of county sheriff

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Snohomish County citizens have a very important election coming up soon on Nov. 7. There are 2 candidates for sheriff, Adam Fortney and Susanna Johnson. Johnson seeks to bring the discussion to changes that must be made at the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office to truly make life safer for us here in Snohomish County.

Johnson’s experience is truly impressive! She has 33 years in law enforcement with many years spent at the sheriff’s office working her way up through the ranks from deputy to detective, SWAT member and team leader to sergeant, lieutenant, captain and bureau chief. She has an advanced degree in criminal justice as well as executive experience crucial to administering a complex and growing department.

Fortney lacks this experience and over his years in office cavalierly chose to selectively enforce laws that he agreed with while ignoring those that he didn’t like. In our democracy, it is not the job of the sheriff to decide if a law is constitutional or not.

We need to elect a sheriff with a vision of how to return the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office to trust, respectability and competence, not engage in political stunts and cronyism. We can have the confidence that Johnson is up to the task. Impressively, she has the endorsement of all living former Snohomish County sheriffs.

Howard Lazzarini

Everett