Herald article smeared Sheriff Fortney

I was disappointed to read the recent article regarding Sheriff Adam Fortney’s recent fundraiser (“Fortney to host far-right Arizona sheriff for campaign fundraiser,” The Herald, July 21). Sheriff Adam Fortney has deftly managed the Sheriff’s Office through a difficult period which has included a pandemic and probably the largest contraction ever in law enforcement personnel resources in Washington state. Like other communities up and down the West Coast, Snohomish County has been awash in fentanyl-fueled illegal encampments while the law enforcement and courts of this region have had an overwhelming resource crisis.

The Herald’s assist to Fortney’s election opponent through the article smearing his position on Gov. Jay Inslee’s covid mandate and for inviting an Arizona sheriff to a fundraiser, ignores the non-partisan pragmatic problem solving that Fortney has exemplified as sheriff.

Fortney puts the safety and security of the Snohomish County community as paramount and when complying with the governor’s mandate would have compromised county resources, he understandably opposed it. I appreciate Fortney’s willingness to serve the community by engaging directly with businesses, neighborhoods and other government agencies to address the drug fueled crime and waste instead of engaging in the culture war rhetoric that the article foments. We are seeing progress in Snohomish County and I hope the voters will allow Fortney to continue his work.

Tyler Johnson

Shoreline