EVERETT, MAY 13: This year, four candidates are seeking the Mayor of Everett seat, with current Mayor, Cassie Franklin, looking for a third term.
Although elections don’t begin until after the summer, candidates have completed filing and are announcing campaigns. We have conducted a Q&A with each candidate to learn more about their goals for the city.
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Cassie Franklin has been the mayor of Everett for nearly two terms now and was the first woman elected Mayor of the City of Everett in 2018. Franklin has issued several mayoral directives to prioritize initiatives on violent crime, housing for all, behavioral health, economic development and community engagement.
During this year’s state of the city address, she highlighted future economic opportunities such as the Outdoor Multipurpose Facility and an initiative to combat youth violence.
She is endorsed by U.S. Representative Rick Larsen, Tulalip Tribes Chairwoman Teri Gobin, and Washington State Secretary of State Steve Hobbs.
She has currently raised more than $130 thousand for her campaign.
Q&A
What are the accomplishments thus far since 2018 that you want to highlight?
Franklin: Since taking office, I’ve led Everett through some of the most challenging times in recent history, with a focus on public safety, community well-being and long-term sustainability. We are a well-run full-service city, and I’m proud of all we’ve accomplished.
In public safety, some accomplishments to highlight are hiring more than 120 officers, adding 18 new patrol officers to our ranks and creating a new Violent Crime Unit. I also advocated for and received funding for our county’s first alternative response program; we expanded services through efforts like our Emergency Mobile Opioid Treatment Team and added shelter through new pallet shelter communities.
We have tripled the number of new business licenses in the last eight years opening new businesses on the waterfront, downtown, central and in south Everett. We have streamlined permitting to help make Everett the best place to build adding 600 new units of housing last year alone, a 340% increase. We currently have 1,800 units in our building pipeline
What is your approach to homelessness? The housing crisis?
Franklin: My team and I are actively addressing this crisis by being fiercely pro-housing. Everett needs homes at all price points – market rate, affordable and everything in between. That is why we have streamlined permitting processes and incentivized responsible development, all while protecting the culture and character of our beautiful neighborhoods. My team and I’s approach to addressing homelessness is by adding more emergency shelters, safe overnight parking, and supportive housing for families in need. Cities cannot, and should not, do this work alone. We work with partners to ensure individuals can access behavioral health treatment and wraparound services.
What makes you different from your competitors?
Franklin: I am the only candidate in this race with the experience necessary to lead our city. I have been honored to serve as our city’s first elected woman mayor for the past nearly eight years. I have led this city under three different federal administrations, through a global pandemic and our city’s recovery from that pandemic. I manage multiple business lines and services in the city, everything from Public Safety, to Parks, to Public Works and everything in between, with 1,200 dedicated city team members.
How would you respond to critics on how the city has managed its finances this past year?
Franklin: The city of Everett is funded by public dollars and my team, and I take that responsibility as stewards of those funds very seriously. Our sound financial practices are validated annually by independent third parties. We consistently receive clean audits, meet rigorous federal oversight standards, and in the last few years we have earned nationally recognized awards for financial reporting and strong bond ratings. Our general fund structural deficit is due to broader issues facing governments across Washington. In our state revenue sources, particularly property taxes, are legally constrained and since 2001, do not grow in step with inflation, the force that drives up the cost of maintaining basic city services. This structural imbalance is a statewide problem rooted in the current tax structure, not at all unique to Everett, but an issue all local governments are facing.
Scott Murphy is a long time Everett resident and former Everett City Council member. He has a background in business as the President of Goldfinch Bros., Inc., a commercial and residential glazing contractor in Everett. He has been vocal in his disagreement with how the current office has dealt with issues such as the city budget and public safety.
Murphy plans to focus on creating a safe city, opportunities for employment, addressing homelessness and housing.
He is endorsed by Former Everett Mayor Ed Hansen, Current Everett Councilmember Judy Tuohy and Everett Port Commissioner Tom Stiger.
Murphy has raised about $129 thousand for his campaign.
Q&A
What will be your main points of interest if elected?
Murphy: I have lived in Everett for 33 years, and my wife and I raised our three children in this community. After serving nine years on the City Council, completing my tenure in 2021, I am deeply concerned about the direction Everett has taken in recent years. From our worsening budget deficit, rising homelessness and public safety concerns to the devastating impact of fentanyl, our city is struggling. Everett citizens are asking many questions involving the City’s finances and spending and realize that Everett is experiencing many serious challenges today.
I am committed to:
- Addressing public safety issues;
- Putting Everett back on a path to fiscal stability;
- Reversing the growth in homelessness
What makes you different from competitors?
Murphy: Every organization needs the right leadership with the right skills at the right time and the City of Everett is no different. Our city currently faces many challenges, including a serious and unsustainable financial forecast. I started my career in public accounting and was licensed for 36 years as a Certified Public Accountant. In addition, I bring over 30 years of successful business, finance and operational experience to the job, most recently as President of a local company, Goldfinch Brothers Glass & Glazing. My business experience, along with my nine years of experience as a city council member make me uniquely qualified among the Mayoral candidates to solve the City’s financial problems. I also bring a demonstrated track record of good judgment and common-sense decision-making.
What is your plan to address homelessness? The housing crisis?
Murphy: Homelessness is one of the most visible and pressing issues in Everett. During the current administration’s time in office, homelessness has risen by over 65% (as per Snohomish County’s point in time count from January 2018 to January 2024).
We must have a clear and coordinated plan that involves service providers, housing partners, law enforcement, and the judicial system. We will need to focus the City’s efforts on strategies that are effective. Claire’s Place, the low barrier housing facility approved when I was on the city council is a step in the right direction, however, we need to ensure accountability of both the residents and the service provider overseeing the day-to-day operations of the facility. Housing supply in the City of Everett is a big challenge. I am committed to creating greater predictability at every stage of the development process—from pre-application meetings and permitting to staff review of land use, environmental, engineering, and building submissions. As Mayor, I will work directly with City planning and building departments to establish clear protocols, reasonable timelines and consistent expectations.
If elected, under your leadership what would change?
Murphy: If I am elected Mayor, we will bring common sense decision-making back to the City of Everett. I have committed to prioritizing public safety and to filling the open/budgeted police positions and reinstating the park ranger program to ensure a city that is safer for all of us. In addition, we will no longer jeopardize our future by deficit spending year after year. I will put the City back on a sustainable financial footing so that we can look forward to adding quality of life amenities in the city, including prioritizing our neighborhoods, our library and cultural arts, rather than continuing to see those amenities reduced or eliminated.
Dr. Janice Greene is a business leader, civil rights advocate and longtime member of the community. Greene has 39 years of experience at Boeing and a role as President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise Council (WBEC).
Greene plans to focus on businesses, increasing housing, affordability and addressing the city’s budget deficit.
She is endorsed by Washington State Representative April Berg, Forcer 32nd LD Senator Maralyn Chase, and U.S. Representative Lillian Ortiz-Self.
Greene has raised more than $35 thousand for her campaign.
Q&A
What will be your main points of interest if elected?
Greene: My priorities focus on economic opportunity with strong labor partnerships, public safety with accountability, and responsible fiscal management. I will support union and prevailing wage jobs with benefits while strengthening small businesses and expanding access to affordable housing and childcare. Everett’s diverse economy—from aerospace and maritime to clean energy and manufacturing—offers paths to prosperity when we connect workforce development with these sectors. I’ll protect essential services while addressing our structural deficit through strategic partnerships, with service cuts and tax increases only as a last resort.
What makes you different from competitors?
Greene: I bring direct experience from both as a union member on the Boeing shop floor and executive leadership that helped generate $12 billion in economic impact for women entrepreneurs and small businesses. Having raised three children in Everett, I understand the daily challenges facing working families and the importance of good wages. This balanced perspective has earned me endorsements from the 38th Legislative District Democrats, Snohomish County Democrats, and leaders like County Councilmember Megan Dunn and State Representatives April Berg and Brandy Donaghy. I’m committed to collaborative leadership based on community needs and practical results.
Do you have a plan for key city issues such as homelessness, housing, and drugs?
Greene: Yes, I’ll expand partnerships with service providers, non-profits, faith organizations, and county agencies to increase supportive housing, treatment options, and stabilization services. My administration will continue to implement zoning reforms that increase housing supply while protecting existing residents from displacement. We’ll invest in community-based strategies that address addiction and mental health crises with care while maintaining neighborhood safety. These interconnected challenges require coordinated responses that balance immediate needs with sustainable solutions.
If elected, under your leadership what would change?
Greene: Everett would see leadership that includes diverse perspectives in decision-making processes. I’ll prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, and practical planning that reflects community priorities rather than special interests. On complex capital expenditures, I will evaluate projects based on their financial viability and public benefit. My administration will focus on solving problems through collaboration, integrity, and practical solutions that work for everyday residents.
Rich Ryan applied for the race on Friday, May 9. According to his Facebook Page, his campaign will focus on fairness, inclusion, transparency and human rights.
As of May 12, he has not raised any funds for his campaign.
Q&A
What will be your main points of interest if elected?
Ryan: My top priorities are restoring affordability to the local housing market, improving local government transparency, and ensuring inclusive, community-centered leadership. I want to invest in Everett’s creative economy by expanding community events, supporting local artists and musicians, while simultaneously bringing more people into our city to support small businesses. A thriving cultural scene builds stronger neighborhoods and it’s one of the most effective ways to reinvest in our local economy from the ground up.
What makes you different from your competitors?
Ryan: I’m not a career politician; I’m a renter, a worker, a musician, and a neighbor who’s been part of Everett’s creative heartbeat for over ten years. I’ve played in local bands, organized shows, and been part of the culture that makes this city feel like home. I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck while rents rise, and I know what it takes to bring people together to build something meaningful. I’m running a people-powered campaign based on fairness, inclusion, transparency, and human rights, and I’m proud to take zero corporate donations. And I plan to use my experience in the arts to help Everett grow; not by selling out to outside developers, but by investing in the community and culture that’s already here.
What is your plan to address key issues facing Everett such as homelessness and the housing crisis?
Ryan: We need to treat housing as a human right, and tackle homelessness with both compassion and accountability. Our public dollars are spent year after year, yet the crisis deepens. That has to change. Here’s my approach: Encourage Housing Development: Partner with nonprofit and community-driven developers to build housing that people can actually afford. Protect Taxpayer Dollars: We can’t afford to spend endlessly on systems that don’t produce results. We owe it to our unhoused neighbors, our communities, and our taxpayers to make every dollar count, and every outcome matter. Expand Low Barrier Shelter Options: Provide safe, clean transitional spaces that lead to permanent housing, not just temporary fixes. Strengthen Outreach: Use trained teams to build trust, connect individuals with services, and follow through with ongoing support.
If elected, under your leadership what would change?
Ryan: Everett will be a city where working families aren’t pushed out, where artists and small business owners can thrive, and where the government serves people, not private interests. We’ll bring in new energy and ideas to solve old problems; starting with a real plan for housing, a transparent City Hall, and a local economy that works for everyone. We’ll build more housing that people can afford, host more community events that celebrate who we are, and bring new life into our neighborhoods by investing in what makes Everett special!! Its people, its culture, and its potential.
Editor’s note: Candidate responses have been refined and shortened to highlight main points.
