Sullivan wants Snohomish County to join and help fund aerospace squad

Brian Sullivan was surprised to learn Snohomish County is not a member of the newest team of cheerleaders for Boeing and the aerospace industry.

So the Snohomish County Councilman and former state lawmaker is out to change that situation this week.

He said he will try to get a council majority to agree to join and contribute up to $5,000 to the fledgling Washington Aerospace Partnership.

Months in the making, this group had its debut two weeks ago. Its stated purposes are rooting on those who can help Boeing secure the air tanker contract and establishing Washington as the aerospace center of the world.

As of today, the organization have 53 “partners” ranging from the city of Everett to Ivar’s and King and Bunnys Appliances to the University of Washington. The list also includes the Aerospace Futures Alliance and Snohomish County Economic Development Council.

Most of these groups have not put up a dime for the effort.

Anne Fennessey, who’s handling communications for the partnership, sent me this entire list of contributors:

-Economic Development Board of Tacoma/Pierce County: $7,500

-enterpriseSeattle: $10,000

-City of Renton: $5,000

-Puget Sound Energy: $2,500

-Providence Regional Medical Center Everett: $5,000

For the record, Snohomish County could have been one of the first members.

County Executive Aaron Reardon was in conversations with organizers of the partnership throughout the early part of the year. He told them he’d help them get off the ground and pledged money. They sent him an invoice for $10,000 in April..

He didn’t write a check and he didn’t sign on as a partner. (Though last week the Snohomish County Airport did sign up and that department answers to Reardon so maybe this is his way of becoming part the group.)

Reardon wanted the partnership to focus on getting Boeing to open a second production line for the Dreamliner in Washington. When the group turned its attention to fighting for the tanker contract instead, he changed his mind.

Apparently he didn’t feel the need to spend $10,000 when Boeing already has a pretty good lobbyist on the tanker contract issue: U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.

That’s his story and he’s sticking to it. From the view of some partnership members, Reardon broke his promise to them.

Sullivan’s effort, if successful, should smooth things over a little.