EVERETT — Two candidates vying for the District 2 City Council seat in Everett officially announced their campaigns, setting the stage for the city’s first contested council campaign of the 2025 election.
Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, announced Jan. 28 he would challenge the incumbent, Paula Rhyne, for her seat on the council. Rhyne announced her re-election campaign on Wednesday.
Crowther
In his announcement, Crowther said public safety is his top priority.
“I think our community continues to strive toward striking a balance between compassion and accountability,” Crowther said in an interview. “The residents and businesses I interact with seem to be ready to take the next step toward the accountability end of the spectrum.”
The Everett Music Initiative runs a number of music festivals throughout the year in Everett, including Music at the Marina, The Everett Stampede, and the Fisherman’s Village Music Festival. Crowther’s experience running that company, along with being the CEO of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce and a former owner of a now administratively dissolved public relations firm, lends him “entrepreneurial experience,” a benefit he could bring to the council, he said.
Crowther is endorsed by State Representative Julio Cortes, Snohomish County Council member Jared Mead and Everett City Council member Judy Tuohy, among other community members and former politicians.
He has reported more than $17,000 in campaign contributions as of Wednesday, according to public disclosure filings. Major donors include retirees, real estate company employees and Edmonds Police Department assistant chief Rodney Sniffen, who is set to take over as the acting chief on March 1.
Rhyne
In her announcement, Rhyne touted her voting record on public safety and workers rights as successes from her first term. Voters elected her to the seat in 2021.
In May 2024, Rhyne voted to implement Flock Safety cameras, which use artificial intelligence to analyze footage of license plates in an attempt to fight vehicular crime. The program led to 12 arrests in January, and vehicle theft has trended downward since it was implemented, an Everett Police Department report on the program released in February said.
Later that year, Rhyne introduced an ordinance to make it more difficult for employers who have violated wage laws to be awarded city contracts.
In her next term, she hopes to work toward downtown revitalization by reducing vacancies and addressing parking issues, she said in her announcement. Rhyne also hopes to improve access to affordable housing by incentivizing the building of duplexes, triplexes and multi-family housing units.
Rhyne has been endorsed by Snohomish County Sheriff Susanna Johnson, State Sens. Marko Liias and John Lovick, State Reps. April Berg and Mary Fosse, as well as Snohomish County Council members Megan Dunn and Strom Peterson.
“It is my honor to work everyday for everyone who is lucky enough to call Everett their home,” Rhyne wrote in her announcement. “With your continued support, I will continue fighting for a better tomorrow for all of us.”
As of Wednesday, Rhyne has not reported any campaign contributions.
Candidates can officially file for office by mail starting April 21. Candidates must file for office by May 9.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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