Arguments Favoring Snohomish County Charter Measure 3

{ "articleTitle": "Snohomish County Mayors Urge Support for Nonpartisan Charter Measure 3", "articleDescription": "A coalition of current and former mayors from across Snohomish County published a forum piece on October 10, 2026, endorsing Charter Proposition No. 3 to eliminate partisan labels from county elections.", "articleBody": "

Mayoral Coalition Endorses Nonpartisan Expansion

\n\nA group of current and former mayors representing communities throughout Snohomish County has published a forum piece supporting Snohomish County Charter Proposition No. 3, arguing that local governance should remain distinct from partisan politics.\n\nThe endorsement, published in HeraldNet on October 10, 2026, outlines the signatories' position that issues typically managed by local government—including road repairs, traffic management, public safety, housing development, and park maintenance—are not defined by party labels. The authors contend that removing partisan designations from county ballots would focus voter attention on candidates' qualifications, records, and plans rather than partisan divisions.\n\nProposition No. 3 seeks to make all Snohomish County elected offices nonpartisan. Under the current system, specific county positions are already elected without party affiliation. These include the Sheriff, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, and Clerk. The proposed measure would extend this nonpartisan model to include the County Executive, County Council, and Prosecuting Attorney.\n\nThe signatories note that every mayor and city councilmember in Snohomish County currently serves in a nonpartisan office. Their names appear on ballots without \"R\" or \"D\" designations, a structure they argue reflects the nature of municipal governance.\n\n

Signatories List Local Leaders

\n\nThe forum piece lists a wide array of supporters from various municipalities within the county. The list includes current mayors and former mayors who have signed onto the endorsement.\n\nCurrent mayors listed as supporters include Don Vanney of Arlington; Dale Kaemingk of Brier; Dan Rankin of Darrington; Matt Hartman of Granite Falls; Jon Nehring of Marysville; Joe Marine of Mukilteo; Aaron Hoffman of Snohomish; Sid Roberts of Stanwood; Russell Wiita of Sultan; and Mike Quinn of Woodway.\n\nFormer mayors who signed the piece include Bob Colinas of Brier; Dave Earling of Edmonds; Gary Haakenson of Edmonds; Brett Gailey of Lake Stevens; Nicola Smith of Lynnwood; Brian Holtzclaw of Mill Creek; John Kartak of Snohomish; Elizabeth Callaghan of Stanwood; Leonard Kelley of Stanwood; Carolyn Eslick of Sultan; and John Seehuus of Sultan.\n\nThe group's argument rests on the premise that local government is where significant differences are made in people's lives, and that this level of governance should operate without the influence of partisan labels. The signatories assert that the proposed change would align county elections with the existing nonpartisan framework already established in city governments across the region.\n\n

Ballot Implications for County Offices

\n\nIf approved by voters, Charter Proposition No. 3 would alter the structure of future county elections. The measure targets the three major executive and legislative branches of county government that currently retain partisan designations on ballots.\n\nThe change would mean that voters in Snohomish County would no longer see party affiliations listed next to candidates for County Executive, County Council, or Prosecuting Attorney. Instead, these races would mirror the format used for the Sheriff, Auditor, Assessor, Treasurer, and Clerk, as well as all municipal mayoral and city council positions in the county.\n\nThe forum piece does not provide specific data on voter impact or historical election results under the current system. It focuses exclusively on the structural argument that nonpartisan elections better reflect the nature of local issues such as infrastructure and public safety.\n\nThe proposition is scheduled to appear on