Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As 2022 draws to a close, I want to wish you a Happy New Year and share my Top 10 Accomplishments of 2022—just a sample of what we achieved this year on the King County Council:
STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SAFETY
1. Worked to expand King County’s community-based hate crime reporting system so that more people can report crimes committed against them.
2. Championed legislation that created a dedicated Cannabis Safety Taskforce in the Sheriff’s Office to target a surge in robberies targeting dispensaries and protect the surrounding communities.
3. Building back our King County Sheriff’s Office by advocating for retention bonuses and working to hire more deputies.
COMBATTING THE SPREAD OF FENTANYL
4. Led the Council in declaring fentanyl a public health crisis and securing an additional $100,000 in funding for King County’s “Laced and Lethal” public awareness campaign that warns youth and their families about the dangers of fentanyl.
EXPANDING ACCESS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT
5. Proposed and passed legislation creating the Recovery Champion Award, which celebrates a person or organization within King County that has demonstrated hard work and passion in helping those with substance use disorders.
6. Hosted the 2nd annual King County Conference on Substance Use Disorders (CSUD) to elevate the conversation about recovery and share resources for those who need them.
7. As overdoses spike nationwide, I championed $150,000 in funding to extend King County’s anti-stigma campaign, which focuses on eliminating social barriers for those seeking treatment for a drug or alcohol problem, raising the awareness of the efficacy of available treatments, and promoting stories of recovery and hope.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITIES
8, Secured funding to find opportunities to deliver improved flood protection services in rural areas that are prone to frequent and intense flood events.
9. Led the Council in providing aid to local food banks that are struggling to meet increased demand amid the compounding impacts of rising inflation, labor shortages, and historic interest rate spikes.
10. Distributed $663,000 in County grants and emergency economic relief to community organizations and initiatives, including $150,000 to Chambers of Commerce to support their work serving small businesses; $135,000 for youth sports teams; and $105,500 to fund emergency service providers such as food banks and shelters.
As I reflect on work of the past year, the theme that comes to mind is partnership. We are all stronger when we work in tandem, build bridges, and collaborate—all things I look forward to focusing on in the coming year as I serve another term as Vice Chair. I am grateful for the opportunity to work on your behalf on the King County Council.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
 Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9
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