I have long called for greater accountability and transparency in taxpayer-funded, community-based programs. Years ago, I requested an audit of community spending from both the State and King County Auditors.
After extensive efforts, my work began to pay off when the King County Auditor released a report on the Department of Community and Human Services grant funding. The findings painted a troubling picture of potential fraud and waste of taxpayer dollars.
Following my push for greater accountability in King County spending, it was rewarding to see my efforts recognized in the Seattle Times just a few days ago.
You can read the full Op-Ed here: Councilmember Dunn deserves credit for pushing accountability at King County
Here’s a quick snippet from the article:
“But to know the best way forward, it’s essential to appreciate how we got here. And that means recognizing the role of King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn.
It was Dunn who doggedly pursued answers to lingering questions about the county’s practice of forking over money to contractors for various social services without clear guidance or confidence that the dollars are well spent.”
As I continue to pursue accountability, I appreciate the recognition from the Seattle Times editorial board of my efforts. King County has a duty to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, transparently, and effectively. With affordability remaining an urgent concern for families across the county, I will keep working with my colleagues to safeguard taxpayer dollars and prevent wasteful spending.
Councilmember Dunn visits Cedar River project site.
As Chair of the King County Flood Control District (Flood Control District), I was pleased to announce on Tuesday the recipients of the 2025 Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program. This program is awarding $14,803,601 to 35 projects across King County, aimed at reducing flood risks and improving resilience for local communities.
The 2025 Flood Reduction Grant Program is a vital tool for strengthening communities throughout King County. By distributing funds equitably across both urban and rural areas, this program ensures that residents countywide benefit from reduced flood risks, healthier ecosystems, and stronger community resilience.
In October 2024, the Flood Control District’s Board of Supervisors renamed the program in honor of Steve Bleifuhs (PICTURED HERE), a longtime King County floodplain management leader. Bleifuhs, who passed away in July 2024, was instrumental in shaping flood hazard management in the county, including the development of the 2006 King County Flood Hazard Management Plan. Renaming this program in Steve’s honor was an important step in recognizing his vision and commitment to flood risk reduction.
|
|
 |
I am happy to report that this funding also included $1 million awarded to the City of Covington for the SE 256th Street Culvert Replacement Project, which will improve flood protection and fish passage on Little Soos Creek.
For more information about the Steve Bleifuhs Memorial Flood Reduction Grant Program, you can visit https://kingcountyfloodcontrol.org/.
 I will never forget being at Reagan National Airport when the hijacked Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon just a few hundred yards away. Alongside many others, I rushed to assist those fleeing the Pentagon building, many who were injured or suffering from smoke inhalation. This was one of the most defining moments of my life—one that I carried with me through my years of serving as a federal anti-terrorism prosecutor.
This week, twenty-four years later, we unite as a county to remember that day. We remember the first responders who rushed toward danger to save others. We remember the 3,977 Americans who were killed. We remember the families of the fallen. And we hold fast to our American ideals of democracy and God-given liberties that endure still today.
As we honor the lives lost that day, let us be reminded that we are at our best when we stand together as one nation, united by our shared principles and compassion for one another.
|
