With term limits forcing Bob Drewel to step down, the office of Snohomish County executive is open for the first time in 12 years. Three Democrats and three Republicans are vying for their party’s nomination in the Sept. 16 primary, and one from each side stands out as the most qualified to lead county government for the next four years.
DEMOCRATS
In an exceptionally strong field, Aaron Reardon rises to the top.
As a state representative and senator, Reardon has proven to be a focused, energetic and visionary leader who can forge compromise between divergent interests but won’t sway from his principles.
He advocates bringing to the county budgeting process the "Priorities of Government" model used successfully by Gov. Gary Locke to solve the state’s budget crisis. This common-sense approach forces government to live within its means by coming to agreement on policy priorities, then funding those priorities and dropping less-important things. Reardon would follow up on that process with performance audits to ensure priorities are being met effectively and tax dollars are spent efficiently.
He argues that the combination of prioritizing funding and auditing performance is the best plan for ensuring government accountability and addressing taxpayer concerns about waste. He’s right.
Reardon has shown an ability to work with colleagues in both parties. The performance-audit bill he authored this year was co-sponsored by many prominent Republicans, including top Senate budget writer Dino Rossi, and passed the Senate handily. Reardon stuck with his principles when the bill got to the House, refusing to agree to a watered-down version that would have made the bill largely ineffective. It failed to get a vote in the House, but Reardon’s efforts built important momentum for the idea that should pay off in future sessions.
Reardon’s strengths put him above Democratic contenders Millie Judge and Kevin Quigley, but by less than a country mile.
Judge, a first-time candidate for elected office, is particularly impressive. She has a strong foundation in land-use issues, supervising seven attorneys in the environmental group of the county prosecutor’s Civil Division. As a senior deputy prosecutor, she has represented a wide range of county departments on a variety of issues, and has a thorough understanding of them. If she doesn’t win this office, she would be a superb addition to the executive’s office in another leadership position.
Quigley, a former state senator who led the successful restructuring of the Everett shipyard he now operates, is a qualified candidate whose recent business experience gives him a good eye for getting the most out of taxpayer dollars. Reardon, however, has outlined a stronger plan for prioritizing county spending, which is at the core of all major decisions.
REPUBLICANS
Dave Earling brings to the race a solid range of experience in public service and private enterprise, experience that would serve the county well.
As Edmonds City Council president, Earling has been a leading voice in forcing city government to live within its means, taking difficult but firm stands on budget cuts made necessary by falling tax revenues.
Transportation improvements are one of the county’s chief needs, and Earling has the experience to lead us toward solutions. As a member and former chairman of the Sound Transit board, he has been a voice both for accountability and compromise that has allowed important projects to move ahead. As transportation committee chairman of the Puget Sound Regional Council, he has played a leading role in transportation and planning issues that would allow him to hit the ground running as county executive.
The relationships he has forged in his regional roles would be invaluable to Snohomish County as it plays an ever-growing political role in Puget Sound.
If voters outside of south county are worried that Earling wouldn’t represent them, that concern isn’t shared by those who know him — his endorsements include a long list of current and former public servants from throughout the county.
Betty Neighbors, who founded a temporary-staffing company 20 years ago and built it into a successful enterprise, is running for public office for the first time. She has made her lack of political experience a central campaign point, hoping that voters will be attracted to her status as a political outsider. Trouble is, the top job in the state’s third most populace county is a highly complex one, and requires more than a strong background in small business and human resources. Handing the reigns to someone with no experience in dealing with those complexities is just too risky.
That said, there’s every reason to believe Neighbors could be an able government servant. We’d prefer to see her gain government experience at a lower level before seeking such high office.
Bob McCaughan of Snohomish has a background in planning and development issues, but no other significant qualifications to be county executive.
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