Councilman Nehring's January Newsletter

Dear North County Neighbors,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a merry and relaxing Christmas enjoyed with family and friends. As we enter the New Year, I am as grateful as ever to serve as your County Councilman and appreciate the great residents of North Snohomish County. In my first newsletter of 2020, I will bid farewell to our outgoing county elected officials, summarize our legislative breakfast and legislative requests, update you on the RAP Program, and share some other fun events from December.

Firstly, I would like to recognize and show my deep appreciation for Snohomish County’s late Treasurer Kirke Sievers. Kirke passed away in his home with his family on Christmas Day. Kirke was nearing the end of his 44^th year of elected service to Snohomish County. Kirke served as an elected County Councilmember and Treasurer for 12 terms. My condolences and prayers go out to Kirke’s widow Patti and the rest of the Sievers family during this trying time. Kirke will be missed in the Snohomish County family.

I would also like to show my appreciation for our outgoing county elected officials in the New Year. Carolyn Weikel is leaving the Auditor’s Office after serving for 12 years. Carolyn has been a great auditor and a great mentor to me in my first term on the County Council. Ty Trenary is leaving the Sheriff’s Office after serving as Sheriff since 2013. I appreciate Ty’s commitment to Snohomish County and public safety in our communities. Brian Sullivan will be leaving the Snohomish County Council to take office as Treasurer. Brian represented District 2 on the Council for 12 years and is a wealth of knowledge and information and I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role. Sonya Kraski will be leaving the office of County Clerk after serving there for three terms. I will always be appreciative of Sonya’s professionalism and the dedication she brought to the Clerk’s office.

On December 10^th, the County Council and County Executive hosted our annual legislative breakfast. This event invites our legislative delegation in Olympia to Snohomish County to meet with us and discuss our legislative priorities for the upcoming session. I am thankful to the State Senators and State Representatives from both parties who were able to join us. We discussed Snohomish County’s legislative priorities which include shifting some of the state shared revenues collected from the marijuana excise tax. Our ask is that the state allow more of the money collected from marijuana sales to flow to local government to fund public safety, treatment services, and other programs to make our communities safer. In 2018, Snohomish County generated $38 million in marijuana excise taxes but only $1 million of that made its way back to local governments to fund important services. Our hope is that the state will recognize the great work of local programs like the embedded social worker program, Diversion Center, and Carnegie Resource Center and shift more of the marijuana revenue to local government to continue and expand these successful programs. You can read an op-ed from the Snohomish County Council and Executive on this topic by clicking this link.

On December 11^th, I had the opportunity to speak with leaders from state certified apprenticeship programs at the Western Washington BTC. I presented on the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program and the success of the program since its launch in the fall of 2019. I also invited them to the RAP Ribbon Cutting ceremony on January 7^th. I would like to extend that invitation to all of you as well. The ceremony will be held at 9:00 AM at the Marysville Pilchuck High School campus. Please email my office for more information.

I always enjoy the opportunity to engage with youth about county government. Radio host Kirby Wilbur teaches a class on government to a homeschool co-op group. On December 16^th, Councilmember Low and I were able to join Kirby’s class and teach them about county government and our roles as County Councilmembers. The students were very engaging and we had great discussions with them. I want to thank Kirby for the opportunity to join them and Councilmember Low for teaching the class with me.

Finally, on December 18^th, we unveiled Hank Robinett Drive at the Paine Field Airport. Hank has dedicated much of his life to great causes and was one of the most vocal advocates for commercial service at Paine Field. To recognize and thank him, the road leading to the commercial terminal was named after him and a plaque was placed in the terminal. The plaque highlights his military service to our nation and his commitment to his community. I want to thank Hank Robinett for his continued service and for the County and airport staff who organized a great event.

I send out newsletters on a monthly basis to keep you informed about what I am working on and how I am representing the residents of North Snohomish County on the County Council. Please feel free to reach out to me at 425-388-3494 or Nate.Nehring@snoco.org.

Sincerely,

Nate Nehring
Councilman, District 1

Snohomish County Council 3000 Rockefeller Ave., M/S 609 Everett, Washington 98201   8th floor, Robert J. Drewel Building  Phone: 425-388-3494 E-Mail: Nate.Nehring@snoco.org   Russell Wiita, Legislative Aide