EVERETT, MAY 23: The Everett City Council is in for a changeup in 2026 as all but one position is being challenged.
The Primary Election is Aug. 5 and the general election is Nov. 5. To follow important election dates and information, see the Snohomish County elections page.
If you missed our coverage of candidates for the mayor of Everett, see here.
Councilmember Mary Fosse will not be running for the District 1 seat this year. Fosse has been on the council since 2021. In 2024, she was elected as the District 38 State Representative in Olympia. Five candidates have applied for the seat.
Mason Rutledge is a local consultant, nonprofit leader and civic advocate, according to his campaign website. He served as President and CEO of the New Canaan Society, a national nonprofit. He currently serves on the board of KIROS, a regional work-faith movement.
He plans to focus on ensuring safe neighborhoods, maintaining housing supply and listening to residents.
Rutledge has no endorsements listed and has raised more than $12,000 for his campaign, as of Thursday, May 22. The Everett Post reached out with questions but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Sam Hem has experience working with families, supporting fair wages and building career pathways, according to his campaign website.
Hem is endorsed by both State Representatives of the 38th LD, Fosse, and Julio Cortes, Sheet Metal Workers Local 66, and Seattle Building & Construction Trades Council.
Hem has raised more than $11,000 for his campaign.
Q&A
What makes you qualified for this position?
Hem: For more than two decades, I’ve been a labor leader advocating for working families, organizing workers, negotiating contracts, and advancing policies that protect living wage jobs.
Since making Everett my home with my wife Jennifer five years ago, I’ve partnered with community leaders on youth training programs, workforce development, and ensuring public projects follow fair labor standards that benefit our residents. My background combines practical experience with a deep understanding of the everyday struggles Everett residents face.
As a council member, how do you plan to represent your district?
Hem: I plan to represent District 1 by being accessible and responsive to residents’ concerns. I believe effective representation starts with listening, at job sites, in community spaces, and from my neighbors. Too often, residents feel the city isn’t hearing their concerns or working for them, despite people working harder and costs rising higher than ever.
My approach is collaborative and solution oriented. I’ll work to build partnerships between neighborhoods and first responders, bring diverse voices to the table, and ensure every neighborhood has equitable access to city services and opportunities. I believe in transparency and accountability, which is why I support initiatives that build community trust.
If elected, what are some key issues you plan to address?
Hem: My top priorities include housing affordability, public safety, and expanding economic opportunities. Everett residents are being priced out of their neighborhoods, which is why I’ll champion investments in public and workforce housing, strengthen tenant protections while supporting homeowners, and promote zoning updates that protect neighborhood character while increasing housing access for all income levels.
I’ll also focus on creating pathways to opportunity, particularly for our youth. By expanding union apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs, we can create meaningful career pathways for Everett’s young people while addressing workforce needs.
Bill Wheeler is a veteran who is committed to sustainability, community empowerment and justice reform according to his campaign website. Wheeler’s focus is on accountability and transparency between local government and developers.
Wheeler has not recorded any contributions to his campaign. Wheeler stated he is not pursuing political endorsements, “I am committed to serving all the people—guided by the Constitution, not by party bosses, donors, or interest groups.”
Q&A
What makes you qualified for this position?
Wheeler: I have years of experience in public safety, facilities management, and environmental health, along with a strong track record in budget management and operational oversight. I bring real-world experience, not political lip service, and I know how to make tough decisions that protect people and resources.
Unlike the current council members, I’m not part of any club or insider circle. I live in District 1, and I’m sick of watching our city decline while leadership makes excuses. I’m running to disrupt the cycle of weak leadership and bring in common-sense solutions that serve the community.
As a council member, how do you plan to represent your district?
Wheeler: I will show up, speak plainly, and stand up for the people, especially when no one else will. That means attending community meetings, being available and responsive, and confronting city bureaucracy head-on. The people of District 1 are tired of being ignored while their taxes go up and their quality of life goes down. I hear them, and I will not be silent on their behalf.
I will fight for residents and small business owners who are buried under red tape, excessive utility rates, and a city government more concerned with optics than outcomes. I will challenge every policy that puts political agendas above community needs. I’m not interested in going along to get along—I’m interested in real change.
If elected, what are some key issues you plan to address?
Wheeler: Public safety is non-negotiable. Our streets are unsafe, homelessness is out of control, and the city’s response has been nothing but failure masked as compassion. I will fully support law enforcement, demand results from city departments, and hold leadership accountable for every dollar spent and every promise broken.
I will also fight to cut taxes, protect property rights, and make Everett a city where small businesses can succeed without being strangled by fees and delays. I will expose waste, demand transparency, and push back hard on policies that burden working families.
Erica Weir
Weir has no online campaign. She has raised $500 for her campaign.
Q&A
What makes you qualified for this position?
Weir: I am a proud 3rd generation Everett resident, living in the Delta Neighborhood. My long career in the non-profit sector working for Village Theatre and as General Manager of the Everett Performing Arts Center; 20+ years as a preschool teacher, arts educator, and Theatre for Young Audiences Program Manager; having been a small business owner in Downtown Everett; and following my grandfather’s and father’s legacy of working for Scott Paper (when Everett was still a Milltown) all played a role to instill a strong work ethic, build budgetary competence and fiscal responsibility, and provide me with a and unique and comprehensive understanding of the challenges, strengths, and possibilities Everett possesses. My past experience has also offered me the opportunity to work closely with various City departments, union organizations, fellow non-profits, educators and administrators in our schools, and individuals of all walks of life.
As a council member, how do you plan to represent your district?
Weir: I take the term “representative” seriously. I am running an old-fashioned grassroots campaign, going door-to-door, attending community events and programs, and engaging with Everett citizens. I want to hear from you!
On the city council, I will work with the Mayor’s office, other councilmembers, department heads and staff, organized labor, neighborhood associations, community groups, businesses and nonprofits in the communities to make sure our citizens are heard, particularly in neighborhoods that have been underserved or lacked representation in the past, and strive to find a balance in creating policies and partnerships that work for everyone.
If elected, what are some key issues you plan to address?
Weir: Great things are happening in Everett, but we need creative and strategies to combat the complex challenges our city and its residents face and sustain the progress that has been made.
· People need to feel safe in their community, both during the day and at night.
· We need to continue building existing partnerships and seek out viable new ways to expand resources to stop the suffering on our streets experienced by those dealing with housing instability, substance abuse, and/or mental health crises, while being mindful of the impacts on businesses and residents.
· We need to responsibly increase the availability of housing throughout the city that working families and seniors can afford.
· It is crucial that we continue to address our city’s multi-year budget deficit with fiscal responsibility and visibility.
· It is critical that we support our small businesses, continue to promote the rapidly growing creative economy in Everett, and protect our many public amenities, fantastic parks, and outdoor spaces to keep Everett a place we can all be proud of.
Steven Sullivan
Sullivan has no online campaign. He has not recorded contributions for his campaign as of May 22.
Q&A
What makes you qualified for this position?
Sullivan: I have lived in Everett all my life. For years I’ve been involved in my community here, my neighborhood group.
As a council member, how do you plan to represent your district?
Sullivan: Well in many ways, I think that we need more activities for our children and the community. We need programs for our kids and people to reach out to them and hopefully get them to stay off drugs. We also need affordable housing.
If elected, what are some key issues you plan to address?
Sullivan: I am really interested in the revitalization of downtown with all the housing being built, and I also think we need a grocery store right in downtown. I would like to see Broadway be a walkable area where there would be places you could shop. We also need more historic preservation.
