City of Lynnwood

Megan Dunn, the program director for the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, is running for re-election to the Snohomish County Council in District 2. Prior to being elected to the council in 2019, Dunn led the successful effort to improve representation on the Everett City Council by creating local districts and served on the Everett Community Streets Initiative Task Force, which helps address homelessness in downtown Everett.

Dunn ran for Snohomish County Council in 2019 to continue her work on community-building and environmental sustainability. She's met her campaign promises by using pandemic recovery funding for district organizations that are committed to helping neighbors, including the Interfaith Family Shelter, Everett Recovery Café, and Madres de Casino Road's meal program.

She's focused on voting for policies that would best uplift people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Dunn was one of three council members who voted to convert two hotels into low-barrier shelters for people experiencing homelessness. She correctly noted that putting up barriers like drug testing would have put 20 million federal dollars at risk of being lost and likely prevented the shelter from being built. 

Dunn faces a challenge from Georgia Fisher. a precinct committee officer for the Snohomish County Republican Party and district chair for the 21st Legislative District Republicans. In addressing the opioid and drug epidemic, she wants to see more people arrested for addiction, sending more people in crisis to jail. Much of her campaign platform follows a familiar path for conservatives this year, with promises to support business and pour even more funds into militarized police. For reference, the county already spends over 75 percent of its $288.5 million general budget on police and the criminal legal system. 

If elected, Dunn will continue to advocate for those who need it most in the country. She is by far the best choice for the Snohomish County Council in District 2. 
 

State House Rep. Strom Peterson was appointed to the Snohomish County Council last year. He is now running unopposed to retain his county council seat. In less than a year on the council, Peterson has joined his colleagues to bolster rental assistance funding and secure funds for Civic Park. As a member of the council's Housing Affordability Regional Task Force (HART), he has also worked to make low-barrier shelters available to help people struggling with homelessness.

Peterson enters election season with a large slate of endorsements from progressive and Democratic leaders from state, local, and county governments. Peterson has earned your vote for Snohomish County Council representing District 3. 
 

Nick Coelho is challenging incumbent Jim Smith for Position 4 on the Lynnwood City Council. Coelho is a local small business owner who co-owns a board game pub and serves on the city’s board of Parks and Recreation to advocate for public green space. He has served on a number of community boards, volunteers regularly, and previously ran for local office.

If elected, Coelho wants to respond to the rapid changes in Lynnwood by ensuring that city growth benefits all residents and doesn’t leave anyone behind. He also wants to be a voice for the city’s working class in Lynnwood leadership. Coelho names public safety, direction, and opportunity as the guiding priorities of his campaign. He wants to invest in public infrastructure, build a strong city center, support local businesses, and make use of public space in innovative and creative ways. 

Incumbent council member Jim Smith has pushed a more conservative agenda during his time on the council. He was first elected to his seat in the 1980s and now runs a music entertainment company outside of his council work. If re-elected, he wants to cut revenue that funds for public services and social programs. Last year, an independent investigation conducted at the behest of the city validated claims that Smith racially and sexually discriminated against city staff members.

We recommend Nick Coelho for Lynnwood City Council, Position 4 because of his strong endorsements and more progressive vision for the city. 

Incumbent George Hurst is running unopposed for Lynnwood City Council, Position 6. Hurst was first elected in 2015 and recently served as the president of the council. He volunteers as a liaison for the City of Lynnwood Arts Commission and as a member of the Alliance for Housing Affordability Board, amongst many other community leadership positions. Outside of public service, Hurst spent more than three decades running his own electrical and commercial lighting business.

In office, Hurst has worked to improve the efficiency of the county’s 911 system and to establish the South County Regional Fire Authority. If re-elected, he states his top priorities are addressing the housing crisis, investing in holistic public safety, protecting the local environment for generations to come, and championing Lynnwood’s parks as green spaces for all. Hurst has earned a number of endorsements in this race including from community organizations, progressive elected officials, and local Democrats.

We recommend Hurst for a third term in Lynnwood City Council, Position 6.

David Parshall is running for Lynnwood City Council, Position 7 to replace retiring council member Shannon Sessions. Parshall is a former local teacher, youth sports coach, and Democratic precinct committee officer. In his community roles, he has personally observed the challenges facing Lynnwood’s diverse, working families.

Parshall is running to improve equity, safety, livability in Lynnwood. If elected, he wants to promote development that puts the community first by investing in public transportation upgrades to connect Lynnwood better. He would also work to reduce traffic and support seniors, veterans, and students. Parshall has earned has the lion’s share of progressive and community endorsements in this race, including from the local labor council, elected officials, and community leaders.

Derek Hanusch, an intern at a global NGO, is the other candidate in this race. Hanusch has a campaign website but it lacks any information aside from a contact form as of mid-October. In this campaign announcement video, he shared no issues but he confusingly referred to Lynnwood’s “all are welcome” slogan as “controversial.” Hanusch is not progressive; he publicly supported a Republican legislative candidate last year and has a strong bent towards criminalization instead of community investment. Lynnwood residents deserve a council representative who takes community needs seriously and has a plan to make the city better for everyone.

Though he is not a strong progressive, David Parshall is the best choice for Lynnwood City Council, Position 7 because of his community experience and impressive endorsements.