City of Mukilteo

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. 
 

Richard Emery is running for re-election to Mukilteo City Council, Position 4. He was first appointed to the council in 2008 and has since won election in 2015 and 2019. In his long tenure in city politics, Emery has prioritized preserving property in Japanese Gulch for recreation, and focused on increasing police and fire staffing and improving school crosswalks. If re-elected, he states that his priorities include meeting clean energy goals, supporting a senior center, and developing the waterfront. Emery's campaign this year has been endorsed by many progressive and Democratic elected leaders, including Sen. Marko Liias and Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self.

Running against Emery is planning commissioner Ashvin Sangvhi, whose plan to retain single-family housing doesn't mesh with the affordable housing crisis facing the city. His public safety policies are nondescript, instead choosing to describe the entire region as one of "crime and squalor" without advancing any concrete or new policy ideas. In contract to Emery, Sangvhi is supported by several prominent conservatives.

Emery is the best choice for Mukilteo City Council, Position 4.

Incumbent Councilmember Riaz Khan is running for a second term on the Mukilteo City Council in Position 5. Khan works at Boeing as a manufacturing engineer and has long been a community leader in Mukilteo. He is a Muslim immigrant and served as president of the Islamic Center of Mukilteo, including leading the mosque building project that faced racist attacks from right-wing candidates in the area. Khan is also involved with the local Democrats as the vice chair of the 21st Legislative District group.

Though not a progressive, Khan has a campaign platform that reflects a knowledge of community concerns. If re-elected he wants to build a new senior center, strengthen public safety, and invest in waterfront redevelopment in order to support green space, recreation, local businesses, and Tulalip tribal history.

Mukilteo DEI commissioner Mike Dixon is the other candidate in this race. Dixon runs his own insurance company and serves in a number of elected and volunteer public service roles, including as commissioner and the current board president of Mukilteo’s Water & Wastewater District. He was also appointed to serve on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission in 2022. Now, he is running on a moderate platform similar to Khan’s that emphasizes waterfront development, small business support, public safety, and housing accessibility.

We recommend Riaz Khan in this race because of his proven track record and the Democratic support he has received in this race.