She brought a mother’s touch to government and was one of the most genuine people-lovers ever to delve into politics in Snohomish County.
From both sides of the political aisle, that’s how people described former Snohomish County Council member Liz McLaughlin, who died Saturday after battling lymphoma for 19 months.
She was 75.
“She has done so much for this county and this community,” former council member Karen Miller said Monday.
McLaughlin’s boss for nearly 16 years, former U.S. Rep. Al Swift, said she was one of the most approachable people he’s ever seen. She’d deal with the poor, the longshoremen and the bankers in the same unassuming way.
“She had the ability to move in all those circles, and she never changed,” Swift said.
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2624 Rockefeller Ave., Everett.
She was born and raised in Monroe, but spent most of her life in Everett. She worked 19 years for Everett Community College’s Family Life Program, first as a preschool teacher where children called her “Miss Liz.” She later worked as coordinator.
Her political career began in 1979 when Swift hired her. She soon became his district director.
“I hired her to do constituent services because I thought she’d be really good at it,” Swift said. “I’ve maintained for years that she had the finest political mind in Snohomish County.”
Longtime friend Jill McKinnie, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen’s district director, said McLaughlin “cared about issues that didn’t have a party. They were children, human services, the homeless. She just cared about people.”
When Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon decided to run for elective office, McLaughlin was one of the people whose advice he sought.
“She told me to speak slowly,” he said.
McLaughlin was appointed as a Democrat to the Snohomish County Council in 1986 to fill a vacancy. She served until 1995.
She helped create the Public Housing Trust Fund, which sets aside city and county money for low-income seniors and people with special needs, and she was instrumental in establishing the Dispute Resolution Center in Everett, an alternate to civil court for resolving landlord-tenant disputes.
When she retired from the council in 1995, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., honored her with a tribute written into the Congressional Record.
“I believe Liz chose politics as a way to accomplish community good on a larger scale than was possible as a lone, caring individual,” Murray said. “Miss Liz, I salute you.”
After she left the council, McLaughlin continued working for those without a political voice, most recently helping with funds to build the new Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett.
“She was one of the most genuinely decent, ethical, caring people I ever met in any profession,” former Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel said.
Former Republican Councilman Bill Brubaker, who served nearly eight years with McLaughlin, said she “was the heart of that council. She had kind of a mom’s touch to make government work, and I admire her for it.”
Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or haley@heraldnet.com.
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