Everett councilwoman Judy Tuohy is running for mayor

Judy Tuohy

Judy Tuohy

EVERETT — Everett City Councilwoman Judy Tuohy announced Friday she is running for mayor.

Tuohy, 62, is seeking to replace Mayor Ray Stephanson, who on Feb. 2 said he would not run for re-election. Stephanson has been mayor since 2003, making him the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history.

Snohomish County Councilman Brian Sullivan also announced in January he is running for mayor.

Tuohy has deep roots in Everett. She graduated from Everett High School, attended Central Washington University and worked in education and retail before becoming the executive director of the Arts Council of Snohomish County in 1995, now known as the Schack Art Center.

Tuohy won election for an unexpired term for Council in 2014, and was elected to a full term in 2015.

She said she is running for mayor because she believes citizens should have choices in their leaders, and that she can continue the momentum established by Stephanson on many issues.

“I really believe that Everett should really be the best place to live in the Northwest,” Tuohy said.

“I know there’s lots of things to do to get there with a projected population growth of 28,000 over the next 10 years. We need a strategic vision to ensure the growth we get is the growth we need and want.”

Everett now is home to an estimated 108,000 people, so the city is forceast to grow by more than 25 percent.

If she wins in November, Tuohy said her priorities would be on improving public safety, increasing economic growth and strengthening the neighborhoods.

Most recently as city council president, Tuohy initiated a plan to assign council members as liaisons to all the city’s neighborhood associations. She also wants to connect the local schools with those associations to involve parents more in civic affairs.

“Some neighborhoods felt neglected and out of loop,” she said. “I think we can do a better job of engaging and communicating with all our neighborhoods.”

She said she doesn’t anticipate making major shifts in policy from Stephanson’s administration. She promised to monitor the city’s lawsuit against Purdue Pharma over the opioid crisis, make sure the Evergreen Branch expansion project of the Everett Public Library is completed, and is open to building more housing projects for the homeless in line with the current project planned for central Everett near Evergreen Way.

“I would support more if that’s what we needed to do,” Tuohy said. “I would also hope that other communities step up that are near us so all the burden doesn’t fall on Everett.”

Tuohy said she wants to find new ways to fund parks and recreation in the city.

“It gets harder and harder to fund them the way I think they should be funded. At the end of the day it’s one of the easiest places to cut,” she said.

Tuohy lives in the Port Gardner neighborhood and has two adult children. Her husband, attorney Tom Tuohy, died in 2007.

Chris Winters: 425-374-4165; cwinters@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @Chris_At_Herald.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Edmonds Police Chief Loi Dawkins speaks after the city council approved her appointment on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds City Council confirms new police chief

Assistant Chief Loi Dawkins will begin in the role Aug. 1. She has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including three years in Edmonds.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

The Edmonds City Council discuss the levy during a city council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds votes to place levy lid lift on the ballot

By a vote of 5-2, the council decided to put the $14.5 million property tax levy lid lift to voters in November.

A trash hauler from Republic Services. (Provided photo)
Growing Teamsters strike disrupts garbage pickup in Snohomish County

Republic Services customers in Edmonds, Monroe and Snohomish were told an “out-of-market labor disruption” affected their garbage pickup on Wednesday.

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

‘Courageous’ teen dives into Silver Lake to rescue 11-year-old

Gauge Bryant, 13, brought the child to the surface. The 11-year-old is in stable but critical condition, authorities said.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.