Today, Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Sheriff Adam Fortney, and Deputy Sheriffs Association President Jonathan Krajcar signed a new contract between Snohomish County and the Deputy Sheriff's Association. The new contract spans four years and will provide added incentives for retaining existing law enforcement professionals and recruiting new ones to address public safety in the County. With over 75% of the County's General Fund budget spent on law and justice agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, public safety remains the number one priority for county leaders.
Today, the Snohomish County Council appointed a new Public Advocate, Gricelda Montes. The current Public Advocate, Jill McKinnie, will be retiring after a long career in public service. Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers had nominated two candidates for the Council's consideration.
“The county is lucky to have had two outstanding and well-qualified candidates to choose from for this critical position,” said Council Chair Megan Dunn. “Gricelda’s background and experience will serve her well in this role as she will approach relationships with authenticity and a genuine heart to build relationships. I extend a very warm welcome to Gricelda as she takes on this new role as the County Public Advocate”
“There are few positions in county government as important as the Public Advocate. We have been blessed to have a fantastic Public Advocate in Jill McKinnie, and I have every confidence Gricelda Montes will be another tremendous asset for our residents,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “When people don’t get the service they deserve or can’t find what they need, Public Advocate Montes will be there to offer a helping hand. I appreciate Gricelda Montes’ choice to serve in this way and thank the Snohomish County Council for their thoughtful deliberations.”
“We could not have found a better person to fill the shoes of Jill McKinnie. Gricelda has been serving Snohomish County for years and we are lucky to have her as our new Public Advocate,” added Council Vice-Chair Jared Mead.
“It is an honor to have been selected to be the Snohomish County Public Advocate. I look forward to welcoming all residents of Snohomish County to the Office of the Public Advocate and assisting them in navigating county government. It is my passion to empower and assist others and I look forward to continuing to do so in my new role,” said Gricelda Montes.
Gricelda is uniquely qualified for her new role, having served as the Administrative Specialist in the Office of the Public Advocate for the past almost 5 years. During that time, she was acting assistant Public Advocate for Snohomish County, providing responses to questions, complaints, and concerns from residents, and conducting investigations for community members’ complaints. With her past experience and willingness to adapt to a new role, Public Advocate Montes is ready to hit the ground running.
“I’m thankful that we had two excellent candidates nominated for this vital county position,” said Councilmember Sam Low. “I am thrilled to have Gricelda serve as our new Public Advocate and the county is fortunate to have someone with her unique experience taking on this role. I am confident the office will continue to be successful and helpful to our residents.”
“I am excited to see Gricelda Montes step into this new role,” added Councilmember Nate Nehring. “The Public Advocate is a crucial position in County government that serves as an unbiased liaison for the public. Gricelda has the necessary discretion, temperament, and experience to serve in this position well.”
The Office of the Public Advocate assists in finding resolutions to public complaints and concerns involving Snohomish County government. This office is an independent entity and serves as an impartial intermediary between the resident and general Snohomish County government.
“The people of Snohomish County are fortunate to have such a compassionate, dedicated, and talented person to be their public advocate,” said Councilmember Strom Peterson.
The candidates for this position were nominations made by County Executive Dave Somers. The Public Advocate serves a one-year term following the original date of appointment and thereafter two-year terms for each reappointment by the County Council.
For more information on the Office of the Public Advocate visit https://snohomishcountywa.gov/2352/Citizen-Public-Advocate.
 Our senior neighbors bore a heavy burden from the COVID-19 pandemic, both in terms of health risks and from increased isolation. Snohomish County has a number of programs to help vulnerable seniors across the county, in addition to our yearly support for senior centers.
Snohomish County is using some of its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help partner organization, Homage Senior Services, provide outreach, counseling, and support services to vulnerable seniors impacted by the pandemic. Older adults across Snohomish County have been significantly impacted by COVID-19, and working to combat isolation among seniors is critical to our communitywide recovery.
KING5 recently spoke with clients and staff involved in this senior support program. If you’re interested, you can watch their story here:
https://www.king5.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/program-h-snohomish-county-seniors-adapt-covid-19-pandemic/281-eea15db2-3716-4e9c-83e5-f30b6f00a78f.
Visit Snohomish County’s recovery website to stay up-to-date on pandemic relief and recovery initiatives put forward by the County and our partners: www.snohomishcountywa.gov/recovery.
Executive Dave Somers recently announced that the County is investing $7.8 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to increase access to child care, with a focus on mental health and wellness supports for children and families and affordability programs.
“When I talk with child care providers, they confirm that the pandemic has caused a serious uptick in behavioral health challenges among the children they’re caring for. Without adequate resources and training, providers are being stretched beyond breaking point and children aren’t getting the kind of support they need,” said Executive Somers. “Through this program, we’re supporting our children, providing tools to caregivers, and helping undo the harms caused by COVID-19. These investments are one part of our broader effort to expand access for communities across our county, particularly in places where child care is already extremely scarce.”
The $7.8 million in ARPA child care investments was proposed by Executive Somers and appropriated by the County Council as part of the 2022 budget process. This funding is in addition to the $12 million for child care investments Executive Somers proposed as part of the 2023 budget process, which, if appropriated, would bring total County ARPA child care investments to nearly $20 million.
Residents can find more information on these programs at this link: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2460.
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