Another Council Member Enters Race For Everett Mayor

Got the following note in our in box this morning…

Hi Leland,

We just wanted to make sure you saw this –

Thanks!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
info@cassie4mayor.com
www.cassie4mayor.com

Everett Councilwoman Cassie Franklin Launches Campaign for Everett Mayor
Franklin endorsed by Mayor Ray Stephanson and Everett business and community leaders

Everett, Wash. – Everett City Council Member and Cocoon House CEO Cassie Franklin announced her candidacy for Mayor on Tuesday with endorsements from current Mayor Ray Stephanson and Everett business and community leaders aligned with her vision of creating and sustaining family-wage jobs and ensuring a safe, vibrant environment where families and businesses can thrive.

“I am a passionate community leader and care deeply about this city,” said Franklin, 45. “I’ve seen the unique beauty of this community and our citizens. I’ve spent my career building and strengthening communities and know that when our businesses are winning, everyone is winning, and when our social services thrive, we all thrive. With our community’s unique strengths and significant challenges, the skillset I bring is exactly what our city needs to build a strong future.”

Franklin’s background makes her the best choice to build on Mayor Stephanson’s work to develop the city’s economy and combat the growing opioid epidemic that has caused crime levels and homelessness to spike. She also brings her own vision and fresh perspective to this work. Her growing list of endorsements signal support for her campaign from both the city’s leaders and its grassroots.

“I am proud to support Cassie Franklin for Mayor of Everett.” Mayor Stephanson said. “She is uniquely qualified to address the city’s most pressing issues, including homelessness and the growing opioid epidemic. Cassie has the right skillset to run government efficiently and capitalize on the great economic opportunities that lie ahead for Everett. She understands what makes the Everett community strong.”

Cassie has been a passionate community leader in the City of Everett for more than a decade. As the CEO of the Cocoon House, she is recognized as a leader in developing solutions to address and prevent youth homelessness and chronic adult homelessness.

She has also served on a several local, statewide, and national community development boards and organizations, including the Community Streets Initiative, the Housing Consortium of Snohomish County, the Washington Statewide Coordinating Committee on Human Trafficking, the National League of Cities’ Human Development Advocacy Committee, and the Rotary Club of South Everett-Mukilteo. As Vice President of the Everett City Council, Franklin joined the mayor as he took on Purdue Pharmaceuticals to hold the drug company responsible for their hand in bringing black-market OxyContin to Everett and has championed policies and actions on some of Everett’s toughest issues.

“To build a stronger Everett, we need to bring more family-wage jobs here and support our small businesses while working within a balanced budget. I have demonstrated experience in that,” Franklin said.

Along with Stephanson, Cassie’s prominent endorsements include former Snohomish County Executive Bob Drewel and more than 40 other local elected officials and business and community leaders.

Cassie and her husband, David Franklin, have been married for nine years and have an 8-year-old daughter. They reside in the Port Gardner neighborhood of Everett. Cassie’s full bio can be found below.

About Cassie Franklin

Cassie Franklin is a passionate community leader with a long track record of successful stewardship of the greater Everett community and extensive knowledge of current business, economic, and social issues. Those that work with Cassie describe her as an inspiring and motivational leader with first-rate interpersonal skills—important tools in developing a forward-thinking vision of a community. She identifies clear objectives, expectations and goals, then ensures they are delivered and maintained, all while remaining fiscally responsible.

Cassie grew up in the Northwest and began working in Everett in 2004. She became the CEO of Cocoon House in 2011 and has led the organization through a critical evolution, including advancing its mission and values, while ensuring fiscal accountability and long-term sustainability. She is a recognized leader in the field of homelessness, and human services, she collaborates with other leaders on these issues locally, regionally and nationally to build healthier communities by creating better solutions to address and prevent youth homelessness and chronic adult homelessness.

Cassie has served on a number of local, statewide, and national boards and organizations, including the Community Streets Initiative, the Housing Consortium of Snohomish County, the Human Services Executives, the Families Matter Vision Council for United Way of Snohomish County, the Homeless Policy Task Force, the Statewide Coordinating Committee on Human Trafficking, the National Technical Expert Group on LGBTQ youth homelessness, the National League of Cities Human Development Federal Advocacy Committee, and the Rotary Club of South Everett-Mukilteo.

Cassie was elected to the City of Everett City Council in 2015. She is currently Council Vice President, Chair of the Lodging Tax Advisory Board, and Chair of the Public Safety Committee. Since joining the Council she has also served as Liaison to the Animal Shelter Advisory Board, the General Government Council Committee, and Safe Streets, Supportive Housing and Community Development Liaison. Cassie has championed public safety, supporting economic develop and has been a key leader in addressing the community’s most pressing challenges of opioid addiction, mental illness and homelessness. Most recently Cassie drafted and introduced a Safe City Resolution ensuring that Everett is a safe, welcoming and equitable city for all its visitors and residents that was passed in December, ensuring city policies protect all our citizens.

Cassie and her husband, David Franklin, have been married for 9 years and have an 8-year-old daughter. They reside in the Port Gardner neighborhood of Everett.