EVERETT — Former Everett City Council member Scott Murphy is hoping to unseat two-term Mayor Cassie Franklin next year.
Murphy, a Democrat who served on the council from 2013 to 2021, announced his candidacy Tuesday, criticizing Franklin’s handling of public safety and city finances, among other things.
“Whether it is the increasing number of unhoused individuals, public drug use, the city’s worsening budget deficit, or just not feeling safe when out and about in Everett, any way you cut it, we are worse off than we were six years ago,” Murphy wrote.
Franklin, also a Democrat, was elected to the council in 2015, serving alongside Murphy. Franklin took office as the city’s first woman to serve as mayor in 2018. She’s up for re-election in November 2025 — and she confirmed late Tuesday that she plans to run again.
“As Mayor of the largest city North of Seattle on the I5 corridor and a city that is growing rapidly, my focus will continue to be on the important work of running the city, efficiently, and effectively, working in partnership with our current city council members and city leaders,” Franklin wrote in an email Tuesday. “I am proud of the work of my administration to represent ALL of Everett and this political announcement is just that, politics. It will not distract me or our city teams from the important work ahead.”
Formerly a city planning commissioner, Murphy is the former president of Goldfinch Brothers, a window company based out of Everett. He’s also one of the founders of Mountain Pacific Bank.
Murphy listed endorsements from former Everett Mayor Ed Hansen, along with several former City Council members: Shannon Affolter, Rich Anderson, Gigi Burke, Ron Gipson, Connie Niva, Bill Rucker and Brenda Stonecipher.
Murphy has been critical of Everett’s elected leaders bringing a levy lift before voters, arguing the city has a “spending problem.”
In an attempt to close a $12.6 million deficit in the city budget, the City Council approved putting a property tax increase measure on the August ballot. If approved, the city’s portion of property taxes would jump from a rate of $1.52 per $1,000 of assessed value to $2.19 — a 44% increase.
“This ballot measure is critical for sustaining our quality of life here in Everett — providing much needed funding for our essential public services,” Franklin said in a press release earlier this month.
Murphy, meanwhile, has said an increase is “putting the cart before the horse.” The city needs to look at ways to cut costs before asking residents for more money, Murphy has said at council meetings.
Ashley Nash: 425-339-3037; ashley.nash@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @ash_nash00.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
