Councilmember Nehring's November Newsletter

Snohomish County, Washington sent this bulletin at 11/01/2026 06:00 AM PST

Dear Snohomish County Neighbors,

As we head into November, there are several important decisions ahead that will impact Snohomish County residents. From Election Day on November 3 to the County Council's upcoming budget adoption, there are opportunities for community members to make their voices heard. In this month’s newsletter, I’ll share updates on these opportunities as well as recent Council decisions and community engagement. Here’s what’s included in this month’s newsletter:

🗳️ Remember to Vote: Election Day is November 3! Make sure your ballot is returned on time.

💰 County Budget: The Council will consider amendments and adopt the 2027–2028 budget on November 10. Learn more about my concerns with proposed property tax increases.

🌐 SR 530 Broadband: Celebrating a major milestone in expanding high-speed internet access to rural communities.

⚓ State of the Station: Updates from Naval Station Everett and its role in our community.

🎉 Stillaguamish Tribe: Celebrating 50 years of federal recognition.

🏥 Addiction Treatment & Housing: Visiting local providers to learn about their successes and challenges.

🎓 Education & Workforce Development: Discussing education & workforce training opportunities at the WASA Legislative Forum.

🏛️ Clearview Cannabis Vote: The County Council voted to maintain existing retail cannabis buffer requirements.

🚈 ST3 Light Rail: Hearing from Sound Transit and residents about the proposed Lynnwood-to-Everett extension.

In The News

Nehring: Let’s reduce spending before raising property taxes on county residents | Everett Herald – Oct. 26, 2026

Proposed Tax Increases Fail to Fix Snohomish County Structural Deficit | Lynnwood Times – Oct. 27, 2026

Community Events

Nov. 10 – Marysville Veterans Day Celebration

Nov. 11 – Arlington Veterans Day Parade

Nov. 26 – Arlington Turkey Trot

Nov. 26 – Marysville Turkey Trot 5k Fun Run

Nov. 28 – Stanwood Ornament Tree Lighting

Before getting into this month’s newsletter, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of Elaine Somers, wife of Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers.

Elaine fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was passionate about environmental conservation and wildlife protection, and her dedication to these causes will leave a lasting legacy. In her honor, Snohomish County renamed the River Viewpoint at Bob Heirman Wildlife Park the Elaine Somers Viewpoint.

Please join me in keeping Executive Somers, his family, and all those who knew and loved Elaine in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Remember to Vote

Election Day is coming up on Tuesday, November 3! I encourage all Snohomish County residents to cast their ballots and make their voices heard. There are important state and county ballot measures, as well as federal, state, and local elected positions on the ballot. These decisions will have a direct impact on our communities.

If you haven’t returned your ballot yet, be sure to sign your ballot envelope and return it to an official ballot drop box by 8:00 PM on Tuesday, November 3. Recent challenges with the postal service raise concerns that ballots returned by mail may not be postmarked in time. You can find a ballot drop box and track your ballot status at www.votewa.gov.

County Budget

On November 10, the County Council will consider budget amendments and ultimately adopt Snohomish County’s budget for the 2027–2028 biennium. Last month, the Council heard presentations from county departments and held a Community Budget Forum to hear directly from residents about the proposed budget.

I recently shared my thoughts on the budget in an op-ed published in the Everett Herald. In the op-ed, I expressed my concerns about nearly $30 million in proposed property tax increases and the county’s ongoing budget deficit. I believe we should make a concerted, deliberate effort to reduce discretionary, non-mandated county spending before asking our community members to pay more in taxes. You can read the full op-ed at this link.

If you’d like to share your thoughts with the County Council before the budget is adopted, you can email your comments to contact.council@snoco.org or participate in our public hearing. Our Public Hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10 at 10:30 AM. Public testimony can be provided in either of the following ways:

In Person: Attend the hearing in the Jackson Board Room, located on the 8th floor of the Drewel Administration Building at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Everett, WA 98201.

Virtually: Join the meeting via Zoom and use the "Raise Hand" feature to indicate that you would like to testify.

SR 530 Broadband Ribbon Cutting

Last month, I joined community leaders and project partners in Darrington for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the SR 530 Broadband Expansion Project. This milestone marks a significant step forward in bringing reliable, high-speed internet to nearly 5,000 homes and businesses along the SR 530 corridor between Arlington and Darrington.

Access to high-speed internet has become essential for everyday life, including education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This investment was made possible through a partnership between Snohomish County, Ziply Fiber, the Washington State Broadband Office, and the Washington State Department of Commerce. I want to thank everyone who helped make this project a reality and those who joined us to celebrate this important

State of the Station

On October 15, I attended the annual State of the Station address hosted by Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC) at the Port of Everett. Captain Stacy Wuthier, Commanding Officer of Naval Station Everett, provided an update on the installation’s priorities, ongoing projects, and the important role it plays in our national defense and local economy.

I appreciate Captain Wuthier’s leadership and the dedication of the men and women serving at Naval Station Everett. Thank you to EASC for hosting the event and providing an opportunity for the community to learn more about Naval Station Everett.

Stillaguamish Tribe Event

I was honored to attend the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians’ celebration of 50 years of federal recognition. This milestone provided an opportunity to reflect on the Tribe’s history, resilience, and contributions to our community. I appreciate the Tribe’s continued leadership in our region and congratulate the Stillaguamish people on this historic anniversary.

Tours of Addiction Treatment Providers

Addressing homelessness and drug addiction is one of my top priorities as a Councilmember. I have worked for years on policies and funding to promote accountability-centered approaches to helping those struggling with addiction in our communities. That’s why I was excited to tour several local treatment providers, learn more about their approaches, and better understand the challenges they face.

Over the past month, I had the opportunity to visit Conquer Clinics, Kennedy’s Place, and the Everett Gospel Mission. Hearing their stories of success, along with the challenges they face with current policies and funding mechanisms, provided valuable insights that will help inform my work as we develop strategies for the future.

I appreciate each of these providers for welcoming me into their facilities and sharing their knowledge and experiences. Their work makes a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout our community.

WASA Legislative Forum

On October 22, I joined educators, superintendents, and fellow elected officials for a panel discussion focused on K-12 education. The discussion was hosted by the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).

I appreciated the opportunity to share my perspective on workforce training opportunities, including the Regional Apprenticeship Pathways (RAP) Program, and their importance to the future of our local economy. Thank you to WASA for inviting me to participate in this important conversation.

Clearview Retail Cannabis Vote

At our public hearing on Wednesday, October 28, the County Council voted to retain the existing buffer requirements for retail cannabis businesses in the Clearview area. The proposed change originated with a request from a cannabis retailer to reduce existing buffer requirements to allow for a new retail location in Clearview.

The proposal raised serious concerns about fairness and the importance of maintaining consistent rules and regulations at the county level. Over the past several months, we heard from many community members, the majority of whom opposed changing the existing requirements.

The Clearview community has been actively engaged on this issue for more than ten years, and I appreciated hearing their perspectives. Their input was a significant factor in my decision to support maintaining the current buffers. This is another example of why showing up, getting involved, and making your voice heard matters.

ST3 Light Rail Community Meeting

Last month, I participated in a community meeting to learn more about the proposed Lynnwood-to-Everett Link light rail extension.

During the meeting, Sound Transit shared its current plans for the project, including potential impacts on surrounding communities. We also heard from residents who asked questions, raised concerns, and provided feedback directly to Sound Transit. The Sound Transit Board of Directors is expected to make a final decision in early 2027 based on its studies and community input.

I send out monthly newsletters 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 425-512-4810 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