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

Councilmember Reagan Dunn speaks to the King County Council regarding preventing fraud and waste.

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Next Tuesday, the King County Council is scheduled to vote on the appointment of King County’s first Inspector General. This is a key step in putting into operation the new Inspector General Division the Council created this summer.

This moment comes after several years of work to strengthen financial oversight at King County. As you may remember, I first called for outside review of County-funded juvenile diversion programs in 2023 and later requested a County audit of DCHS contracting. The resulting audit identified significant weaknesses in financial controls and contract oversight, and a subsequent independent investigation confirmed concerns of potential fraud in programs flagged by the audit.  

Earlier this year, I joined in co-sponsoring legislation sponsored by Councilmember Rod Dembowski to establish the new Inspector General Division. Approved by the Council in July, the new division is charged with investigating suspected fraud, waste, and abuse involving County-administered funds, and issuing findings and recommendations when problems are identified. I greatly appreciate Councilmember Dembowski’s leadership in bringing this legislation forward, as well as the support of my colleagues who joined in the effort.

Next week’s vote will mark the next step in moving these oversight reforms from legislation into operation, and I look forward to sharing more with you following the Council’s action. As I shared in an Op-Ed in The Reporter Newspapers recently, I believe that King County has an opportunity to—rather than run away from these investigations for fear of what we may find—instead run toward solutions, lead the nation in reforming government, and rebuild the trust of taxpayers.

All my best,

Reagan Dunn
King County Councilmember
District 9

Celebrating Recovery with the Mariners!

Councilmember Dunn is honored as a Recovery Chamption during a ceremony at Recovery Day at the Mariners.

This past weekend, I was honored to be recognized as a 2026 Recovery Champion at Recovery Day at the Mariners, one of the final games of the season. I’m incredibly grateful to be included among such an impressive group of honorees who are doing the hard work to make recovery possible throughout our community.

As many of you know, this issue is deeply personal to me, and I have been proud to continue to lead our region in substance use recovery work throughout this year. I’ve been open about my own journey because I want to use my own experience whenever I can to remind others that there is always hope and a path forward. I’ve seen firsthand just how much it matters to have people who believe in you and stand by you along the way. I want to make sure and say a huge thank you to Washington Recovery Alliance Executive Director Monika Whitfield, the King County Recovery Coalition, the Seattle Mariners, and all the incredible individuals who made this year’s Recovery Day possible.

This was a deeply meaningful honor, but even more meaningful is being a part of a community filled with people who bring so much courage and dedication to helping others find and sustain recovery. One thing I want people to know about recovery is simple: Falling down isn’t failure. Staying down is. I’m grateful to everyone who has been part of my own journey, and I’m proud to stand alongside those who continue to lift others up and show every day that recovery is possible.

October is Filipino American History Month!

Throughout October, we celebrate Filipino American History Month and recognize the history, culture, and many contributions of our Filipino American friends and neighbors.

I’ve been proud to help provide grant support for the Filipino Fiesta and other events that celebrate the traditions and contributions of communities throughout King County. One of my favorite aspects of this job is having the opportunity to celebrate alongside all of you the many cultures that make Southeast King County such a special place to live.

The Filipino Fiesta was supported by a $1,000 grant from King County,.

I hope you’ll join me this month in celebrating the rich history and lasting contributions of Filipino Americans throughout District 9 and all of King County.