In the race for Snohomish County Council District 2, the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington voted to endorse three standout women leaders: Megan Dunn, Jennifer Gregerson and Cecilia Wilson.
With eight candidates vying for this position, and after extensive interviews and vetting, NWPC-WA’s local endorsements committee feels it imperative to share our experiences with these candidates, and assist our fellow constituents in making an informed decision this August.
Dunn, Gregerson and Wilson have not only been fundraising and getting out in the community, they have demonstrated a deep understanding of District 2, detailed how they will help create a more livable and economically sustainable Snohomish County, and proven their ability to deliver results for their communities.
Megan Dunn has shown to be a strong and transparent leader. Dunn has a strong background in fighting for, and winning environmental, labor, and social justice policies. She is deeply familiar with land use policy as a former member of the Everett Planning Commission, and skilled in advanced policy understanding (her masters degree in policy studies helps, too). Dunn has proven her ability to work across the aisle to move a common mission forward through her work with current County Councilmember Nehring and the Zero Waste Initiative. Dunn is a trusted leader who also led the multi-year effort for districts in Everett, a move that will increase political representation for all, especially women and currently underrepresented groups. The campaign for districts was the largest community-driven policy change in decades, showing Dunn knows how to bring organizations and people together and demonstrating she is willing to do the heavy lifting for her constituents.
Jennifer Gregerson is the first woman elected to serve as Mayor of Mukilteo. She was elected 2013 after serving on the City Council. As Mayor, she has prioritized issues including housing affordability, education, transit, and victim advocacy. An urban planner, Gregerson understands the importance of making housing affordable for residents at all levels, stating that if we don’t support options and opportunities for all incomes, we further strain opportunities for those most vulnerable. She worked with the county to create the regional housing partnership, Alliance for Housing Affordability, which invests hundreds of thousands of dollars in a new Housing Trust Fund, fighting homelessness and developing housing so that no one is pushed out of the place they call home. In fact, as mayor, Jennifer led her community by promoting waterfront redevelopment and was the driving force behind the City’s development of a bike and pedestrian master plan, adding the city’s first bike lanes in decades. She also partnered with the Mukilteo School District and other stakeholders to expand opportunities for students across the City, and ensured every school has a School Resource Officer to protect student safety. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention the current attacks she is experiencing by a selection of Mukilteo city council members. We find these attacks against her to not only be politically motivated, tactless, and an attempt to dissuade from the real issues our county faces, but also a waste of taxpayer money and council energy. We urge voters to disregard.
Cecilia Wilson will utilize her more than twenty years of experience working for county government to give District 2 residents experienced leadership. Over her career, Wilson has played an integral role in important county legislation including: the establishment of the County’s prescription drug discount program; the Tree Ordinance, which incentivizes the retention of trees in many new developments; a county fund for Chemical Dependency and Mental Health treatment and therapeutic court programs; and much more. Wilson currently serves as a key adviser to Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, works on improving the efficiency of county government through the Continuous Improvement/STEP initiative, and manages constituent services in the Executive’s Office. Wilson will prioritize economic development, housing, and transportation.
District 2 residents have an important choice to make on August 6—and with three exceptionally qualified candidates, a difficult decision. But we are confident that no matter which of these women move forward to the general election and then to public office, the voters and constituents of Snohomish County Council District 2 will be well represented.
Emily Wicks
Everett
Christina Pedersen
Marysville
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