Your Weekly Update on What's Happening at the King County Council  

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

This week, I was thankful to pen an op-ed in The Reporter newspapers and make my case for why King County should lead the way on reforming government to prevent financial waste and misuse.

Read it here: King County could be an example of accountable government | Reagan Dunn

Click on the picture to read the story.

In it, I describe how, when it comes to government corruption and public trust, Americans share a remarkably similar view. A new Gallup poll found that a record 89% of Americans believe corruption is widespread in government, with agreement spanning the political spectrum. In response, King County has an opportunity to lead the nation in reforming government and rebuilding voter trust. We should take it.

“While the federal government continues to be consumed by partisan battles over which party is more deserving of voter contempt, King County should aim to demonstrate a better path: one that prioritizes financial responsibility over partisan rhetoric and accountability to taxpayers over fealty to political tribalism.”

—Councilmember Reagan Dunn | The Courier-Herald

I appreciate the chance to share with readers how King County can lead the nation in responding to Americans’ justifiable demand for greater accountability. Americans are asking government at all levels to earn back their trust. King County should lead the way by answering the call.

All my best,

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Your Voice Matters: Another Successful Town Hall in the Books

Councilmember Dunn speaks at a townhall to residents of unincorporated King County.

As chair of the King County Flood Control District, I recently joined Cedar River-area residents for the I Love Cedar River Town Hall, a community conversation focused on flooding, recovery, and the future of our river. It was a great opportunity to share updates on the nearly $18 million we are investing in flood repairs in the area and to talk about the work underway to strengthen flood protection for communities along the Cedar River.

I especially appreciated hearing directly from so many residents about their experiences, concerns, and priorities. These town halls are an important part of my work to make sure our investments respond to the needs of the people in my district while also preparing for future flood risks.

Thank you to the Cedar River Council, our King County agencies, and the many staff members who helped plan and participate in the town hall, including DNRP’s Water and Land Resources Division, the Department of Local Services, and the Office of Emergency Management.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful discussion. I look forward to continuing this work together as we protect communities, support flood recovery, and invest in long-term safety, habitat conservation, and resilience.

Honoring King County’s young and future leaders

I was proud the other day to join my Council colleagues in recognizing this year’s Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellows. Over the past year, these six fellows gained hands-on experience across King County government while contributing to important work serving our region.

Created in 2017, the fellowship honors the legacy of Ruth Woo, a community leader and mentor who dedicated her life to public service and to opening doors for people from communities historically underrepresented in government. Her belief in creating opportunities for the next generation of public servants continues through this program, and I’m always inspired to see young people bringing their perspectives, talents, and commitment to public service.

Congratulations to this year’s fellows, and thank you for your service to King County.

Learn more about this year’s fellows by clicking on the video below.

Click on the image to learn about this year's Ruth Woo Fellowship class.