 January 2026 Newsletter
New Year, New Term, New Start!
Dear Friend,
As we step into this new year, I want to express my gratitude for the extraordinary opportunity and honor it is to serve you, and all the residents of District 3, as your King County Councilmember. I was elected to serve a second term with over 68% of the vote in the November 2025 general election. Then, I was humbled by the unanimous vote of my colleagues, electing me to serve as the 2026 King County Council Chair.
I will continue to work hard every day to live up to the faith you’ve put in my leadership, and I’m looking forward to working together in our district, and throughout King County, in the coming year to build thriving communities for all!
I care deeply about hearing your priorities so that I can represent your voice on the Council with integrity. Sharing your 2026 priorities helps me understand what is important to you, to each of our unique towns and cities, and to our full district.
This is the purpose of our annual district survey, so please take a moment to fill it out, and share with your friends and family in our district! We just hit 1,000 survey responses and our record from previous years is 3,500 responses. Let’s set a new record for this year!
Please fill out the survey by Friday, February 20! Click here, click the button below, or direct your phone camera to the QR code to take the survey now.
 Thank you for making sure your voice is represented in this important work! And, as always, don’t hesitate to reach out at sarah.perry@kingcounty.gov or at 206-477-1003. I’d love to connect!
In gratitude,
To navigate to a specific section, click on the links below:
Council Briefings, Actions & Recognitions!
 The new year brings many opportunities to engage on issues across our region! I’m excited to Chair the Council and serve on the committees below!
Outside committees include: Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC), Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), WRIA 7 – Snoqualmie Watershed Forum, Eastside Transportation Partnership, Eastrail Regional Advisory Council, and Northshore Parks & Recreation Service Area.
Great to Be Out in Community!
 East King Chambers Coalition Legislative Kick-Off: I joined our East King County chambers of commerce, our state legislators, and community leaders for the East King Chambers Coalition Legislative Kick-off! We heard from legislators representing our District 3 residents on a variety of legislative topics impacting our businessowners and their businesses.
Art Commons Creative Summit: Art Commons hosted a wonderful event called “Art as Catalyst for Change” at the Snoqualmie Valley Center for Creativity. We heard from 4Culture Executive Director Brian Carter, Co-Founder of Tasveer Rita Meher, and artist Ryan Daniel Dobson. Thank you, Art Commons, for bringing together community members from across East King County to discuss, share, and experience art! It's something we all need during this time.
A Little Trip to Duvall: I had a fun coffee chat with Buddy Buck, a deeply involved community member and business owner in Duvall who’s the mind and personality behind Duvall TV, and a productive conversation with newly elected Duvall Mayor Amy McHenry about how we can best serve our shared communities.
 Northshore Senior Center: I had a wonderful meeting with Nathan Phillips, CEO of the Northshore Senior Center, about the challenges our residents of all ages are facing in the Bothell/Woodinville area and how the county can support the senior center in its mission to promote healthy living and well-being in our communities.
Community Celebrations
On MLK Day, we celebrated the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who strived to create a world where each and every person can thrive. Dr. King is the namesake of our county and is an inspiring example that we work to live up to every single day. I had the honor of speaking at King County’s annual MLK Day Celebration hosted at Seattle University.
We always have things to celebrate in our District! Check out the What’s Going on Around Town? section below for information on upcoming events in our District.
And the Survey Says...
It takes all of us working together within our communities to make an impact! Here are more of the happenings from Council, King County, and our communities on the issues you expressed matter most to you in your responses to our annual survey:
D3 Community Survey Priority #1: Road & Bridge Infrastructure
 Updates on SE Edgewick Road & Baring Bridge: SE Edgewick Road in unincorporated North Bend and the Baring Bridge in the Baring/Skykomish area were severely damaged during the historic flooding event this past December. Check out this webpage created by King County Local Services for updates on the repair of SE Edgewick Road, and check out this page for updates on the installation of a temporary bridge and the later permenant upgrade of the Baring Bridge.
D3 Community Survey Priority #2: Safe & Healthy Communities
 Collaboration on Flood Recovery: I joined Governor Bob Ferguson and local leaders from Skykomish, Index, and Baring in Skykomish following the historic flood this past December. He shared an update on the status of Highway 2 repairs, and we heard from community members about their flood experiences. Check out this webpage for county resources as we continue to recover from this flood event.
D3 Community Survey Priority #3: Environment
King County Energize Program: King County's Energize program installs heat pumps and provides other energy-efficient upgrades in a variety of homes and building types. The county pays 80% to 100% of the installation costs, contributing to our shared goal of reducing harmful impacts on the beautiful forests, rivers, streams, and other natural habitats in our county.
D3 Community Survey Priority #4: Housing – All Types & All Incomes
 Continuing Strong Collaboration with Housing Partners: I’m excited to continue my semi-monthly meetings with the Master Builders’ Association to collaborate and advance toward our shared goal of stable housing for all of our neighbors. I also connected with Plymouth Housing and the Low Income Housing Institute – vital, regional partners in tackling the housing crisis our county is facing.
D3 Community Survey Priority #5: Transit & Mobility
 Crosslake Light Rail Connection Coming Soon: Sound Transit announced that light rail will begin crossing the I-90 floating bridge starting on March 28! The Crosslake light rail connecting downtown Seattle to Bellevue and Redmond has been decades in the making and will transform how we in East King County move around – whether it’s your daily commute into Seattle or rare trip to attend a sports game.
Redmond Spotlight!
This month the spotlight is shining on a Redmond business, non-profit, and civic engagement opportunity! We hope you have a chance to visit these fantastic community contributors – and remember to Go Local!
Small Business Spotlight: Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.
Last fall, Qamaria Coffee opened its first location in Washington state right here in Redmond. Qamaria offers customers a special experience of enjoying famed Yemeni coffee, all while enjoying a vibrant space and neighborly community in Redmond! Visit them at 17585 Northeast Court, Suite 100, Redmond, WA 98052. Call 206-794-1422 or check out their website to learn more!
Non-Profit Spotlight: Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center has been a steadfast organization in the Redmond community since 1976, providing an amazing space where our youth and neighbors with disabilities can enrich their lives through adaptive horseback riding and horse-assisted therapy. Call 425-882-1554, email them at littlebit@littlebit.org, and check out their website to learn more!
City Spotlight: City of Redmond
The City of Redmond is currently accepting applications for youth to serve on the Redmond Planning Commission. This commission advises the city council on proposed amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code. To be eligible, you must be a high school student living or attending school in Redmond. The application is due Sunday, March 1 at 5:00 PM, so spread the word to any young people you know who want to make a difference in their city!
What’s Going on Around Town?
There’s a lot going on across our District this season, and we want you to know all about it, so check out the events below!
Sammamish Lunar New Year Celebration
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Saturday, January 31, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Join the City of Sammamish in celebrating the Year of the Horse! The diversely talented international community of Sammamish will be featured with activities centered around Asian culture and ceremonial traditions.
Issaquah Valentine Dance
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Saturday, February 7, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Dance the night away at the Issaquah Community Center for this parent-child Valentine Dance! Come dressed up or keep it casual, just be ready to show off your dance moves and make some unforgettable memories together.
Galentine's Celebration in Duvall
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Saturday, February 7, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Join Queen Bee Esthetics in Duvall for a fun, feel-good Galentine’s Celebration — a day all about women supporting women while being inclusive and welcoming to all. Come relax, connect, and celebrate friendship, self-care, and community!
Veterans Breakfast in Bothell/Woodinville
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Monday, February 9, 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM: Join the Northshore Senior Center for their monthly Veterans Breakfast in the Bothell/Woodinville area! This is an opportunity for people of all ages, eras, and branches of service to connect with each other and share experiences. To register, call 425-487-2441.
World Cup 2026 Fútbol for All Event in Redmond
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Wednesday, February 11, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Hear from Corky Trewin, one of the official team photographers for Sounders FC and a graduate of Redmond High School to learn all about sports photography in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup!
Carnation Valentine's Eve Dance Party
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Friday, February 13, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Join the Sno-Valley Senior Center in Carnation for a fun, festive dance party blending Valentine’s charm with a little Friday-the-13th fun! Enjoy live music, light refreshments, and an evening of good-natured celebration.
Misunderstood Moments Exhibition Opening Ceremony in Sammamish
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Saturday, February 14, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Join Lens of Youth at the Sammamish Library for the opening ceremony of their Misunderstood Moments Exhibition! This exhibit shares the real stories of individuals with intellectuals and/or development disabilities (IDD), paired with original artwork created by youth.
The Real Twin Peaks Festival in North Bend
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Thursday, February 19 – Sunday, February 22: Real Twin Peaks events are returning to the town where the coffee is damn fine, the pie is suspiciously good, and the owls are definitely not what they seem. Come hang out in Snoqualmie and North Bend to celebrate the beloved TV show, Twin Peaks, with fans from around the world!
Redmond Senior & Community Center Winter Whimsy
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Friday, February 20, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Join the Redmond Senior & Community Center for their Annual Winter Whimsy show of comedy, juggling, and a little mayhem of fun! This year’s performers, Alex Zerbe and David DiMuzio, will amuse and amaze you with magic, juggling, stunts, and comedy.
If you know of any upcoming events that you’d like us to highlight in our next newsletter, please share them at Isabel.Smith@kingcounty.gov.
Stay Connected!
 Please forward this email and invite others to sign up to receive email updates. Also, make sure that you follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts to stay up to date on everything we are working on together!
Please always feel free to reach out by emailing sarah.perry@kingcounty.gov or calling 206-477-1003. I look forward to connecting!
All the best,
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