South County Fire commissioner resigns amid redistricting process

Published 12:57 pm Monday, July 20, 2026

EVERETT — A South County Fire commissioner announced his resignation last week, partially citing the board’s process of creating new fire commissioner districts.

While commissioner Micah Rowland’s main reason for resigning is that he’s moving to Port Orchard, he announced his decision July 14 during the board’s redistricting discussion.

The board began its redistricting process earlier this year following the annexation of Edmonds into South County Fire in 2025. To account for about 40,000 more people, the board must redraw its five districts to include Edmonds. Currently, Edmonds is represented by a liaison who does not have voting power.

A person running to serve as a commissioner must reside in the district they’re running for, but all South County Fire residents vote for every position.

In an interview Friday, Rowland said he’s been planning on relocating, but the annexation discussions were a factor in making the move before his term ends in 2029.

“I thought, well, as long as we’re redistricting anyway right now, if I’m clearing out, that gets rid of some of the hesitation around drawing lines to protect certain commissioners,” he said.

Much of the discussion around redistricting has centered around whether Edmonds should be in one district or split between two. One redistricting option would put all of Edmonds in District 2, but the current District 2 commissioner, Michael Fearnehough, lives outside of what would be the new boundary. On July 7, the board supported drafting a new option that would change the District 2 boundary to include Fearnehough’s residence. That option was presented to the board July 14.

“In some sense, it’s fair that commissioners shouldn’t be drawn out in the process,” Commission Chair Jim Kenny said July 7. “On the other hand, populations change, community interests change, and as we do that, it’s not always going to be possible to keep commissioners in their current seats.”

Regardless of the final redistricting decision, all commissioners will be able to serve out their term in their district.

Currently, the board has five districted commissioners and two at-large, who can reside anywhere within South County Fire’s service area. One proposal would remove the at-large positions and create two additional districts, including one that includes the entirety of Edmonds and Esperance.

With that option, Edmonds residents in the newly created District 6 would be able to vote for a commissioner in the 2027 election. Rowland said Friday he was in support of moving to seven districts.

“It always annoyed (Edmonds residents), and me as well, that it was going to be quite a number of years before they get the chance to even vote for a commissioner to represent their district,” Rowland said.

On July 16, the Edmonds City Council held a meeting to discuss their preferred redistricting options. At the time, South County Fire was scheduled to make a final decision at Tuesday’s meeting, but it is now scheduled for August, so the council held off on making a final recommendation. In a letter to the council, Mayor Mike Rosen advocated for an option that would split Edmonds in half between two districts.

“By representing Edmonds across more than one commissioner district, this option provides Edmonds residents and potential candidates with broader opportunities to participate in the governance of South County Fire,” Rosen said.

All redistricting options are available on the South County Fire website.

Rowland’s last day will be July 31. He plans to make a formal announcement during Tuesday’s business meeting.

Tuesday’s agenda also includes a resolution recognizing Rowland, saying he played a key role in working through the details of city annexations into the fire authority, served as a volunteer firefighter and helped improve the organization’s technology infrastructure.

“I’ve always tried to keep my head level and make the best decisions possible, regardless of what its effect would be on myself or future political ambitions, which I don’t have,” Rowland said Friday. “I always just want to do the best for our community, and I can say with a clear conscience I’ve done that.”

In 2022, Rowland was appointed to the board after a vacancy in District 4, which covers parts of unincorporated Everett and Mukilteo, including Lake Stickney. In 2023, he was elected for a six-year term.

Starting Aug. 1, the board will have 90 days to appoint someone to the position. The board has not made any decisions on the appointment process and will begin discussing it in August, South County Fire Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Kenny said in a statement to The Daily Herald. With previous vacancies, the board has sought applications and held public interviews before making a decision.

Residents will vote for a commissioner to serve a full term in the next board of commissioners election in 2027.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.