EVERETT — Karen Miller, a former member of the Snohomish County Council who lived in Mountlake Terrace, died on April 4. She was 92.
Miller was first appointed to the council in 1992. She won reelection to the District 4 seat as a Democrat in 1993 and served a full term.
Before joining the council, she served on the Mountlake Terrace Planning Commission and the Board of Trustees for Edmonds College, according to an online obituary. After leaving the council in 1998, she served on the board of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission and the Snohomish County Public Defenders Association. She served on the public defenders association board until the age of 89 when she retired in 2022.
Miller served as the chair of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission for more than two decades. In an April 9 Facebook post, the commission called Miller “a devoted leader and public servant.”
Kim Herman, the former executive director of the commission for 35 years, worked with Miller during her entire time serving on the commission. Miller was an effective leader, known for running efficient meetings and making sure everybody was able to share their perspective, Herman said.
“She was just very highly respected as an administrator and for the programs that she helped carry out in their chair and board positions,” he said in an interview Wednesday. “I can’t say enough about her.”
During her time on the commission, Miller helped start a new program to help farmers purchase farms and another to loan money to nonprofits which could use it to purchase land to develop affordable housing, Herman said.
“She was passionate about discovering affordable housing solutions for first-time homebuyers and seniors,” the Housing Authority of Snohomish County wrote in a social media post. “She valued the relationships she forged both locally and nationally to secure funding for these important projects.”
The city of Mountlake Terrace is set to read a proclamation in honor of Miller at the City Council’s work session on Thursday. A celebration of life is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at 6601 244th St. SW in Mountlake Terrace.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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