Candidate Statement From Mary Fosse For Everett City Council District 1

Editor’s Note: On September 19th candidates in the November 2nd General Election for Mayor, Everett City Council Districts, Everett School Board and Port of Everett Commissioner were invited to send a statement up to 500 words to MyEverettNews.com introducing themselves to our readers. Not all of the candidates responded but we are publishing unedited statements from those that did reply by our deadline. MyEverettNews.com does not endorse candidates but thinks this is a good way for you to hear directly from the people running. All offices are non-partisan.

My name is Mary Fosse and I am running for this seat because our residents deserve a responsive and proactive city council. It’s time for a fresh perspective and new ideas to address our homelessness and housing crises, the perpetual budget deficit, and improve public safety, and we need leadership that will be intentional in planning for the regional growth and climate change realities we’re facing. We deserve a representative that not only cares about Everett, but knows the needs of District 1, and will be an advocate for this community.

A mother of two, wife of a veteran, and a survivor, I have nearly two decades of business and public service experience and have been a local small business and nursery owner for the last 10 years. I currently work as the Legislative Aide for State Representative Wicks, serve on the Everett Public Schools Fiscal Advisory Council, am a member and consistent volunteer for a variety of local organizations, and formerly served as Chair of the Delta Neighborhood, a Commissioner on the Everett Districting Commission, on the Council of Neighborhoods, and as an Operations Manager and Special Events Coordinator for Dale Chihuly.

Most of my neighbors know me as a dedicated volunteer and community leader. I became recognized as an innovative problem-solver that gets things done after leading a grassroots environmental justice campaign successfully securing nearly $5.5 million to cleanup lead and arsenic contamination in our community.

Born into low-income housing to a single mother, I know the barriers families face and what life is like for so many others in similar circumstances. Now as an accomplished professional, landlord, and business owner who has risen out of poverty, I am committed to supporting equitable policies, partnerships, and programs that give people opportunities to overcome the obstacles they face, to have a job, a career, to have a safe home to raise their families and to eventually be able to give back to their community just as I has been privileged to do.

While my resume and professional experience is relevant for this position, it is my lived experience in childhood poverty and homelessness that gives me the perspective needed in this role to address our housing and homelessness crises, and in understanding the nuance of those issues.

Rather than continuing to elect people who view homelessness as simply a problem to deal with, we need to start electing leaders who view challenges like the affordable housing shortage as a symptom of larger systemic issues, and put action behind their words. That’s what I promise to bring as your next city councilmember.

I am proud to be the most endorsed candidate in this race, including endorsements from State Senator June Robinson, State Representatives Mike Sells and Emily Wicks, Everett Firefighters IAFF 46, WA Conservation Voters, The Tulalip Tribes, The Housing Action Alliance of Snohomish County / Washington Housing Alliance Action Fund, and many union organizations. To learn more or review my extensive list of endorsements, please visit maryfosse.com.