EDITORS NOTE: In an effort to go beyond the information in the voter’s pamphlet, we offered all candidates an opportunity to share more about their background to help voters get a better feel for who they are as a person and how they will impact the City of Everett.

Cassie Franklin is looking to be reelected as Mayor of Everett

Cassie Franklin is running for Mayor of Everett.

How did you get into politics?

My path to public service started in the nonprofit world, long before I ever thought about running for office. I spent the early part of my career working with children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, helping connect them to housing, education, and support. Through that work, I saw firsthand how city policies directly impact people’s lives, especially the most vulnerable.

Later, I served on Everett’s Community Streets Initiative, where I worked with local leaders on solutions to homelessness, mental health, and addiction. That experience opened my eyes to the role city leadership can play in creating real change.

A former City Council member encouraged me to run for council so I could continue that work from inside City Hall. Then, a former mayor of Everett asked me to consider running for mayor. I took that leap because I love Everett and wanted to make a difference for the community that raised my daughter and gave me so much.

What hobby or interest do you have that might surprise people?

A lot of people don’t know this about me, but I’m a huge animal lover and I actually started my career working in animal welfare before moving into human services. Over the years, I’ve adopted several special-needs pets, and right now I share my home with a very sweet (and very vocal!) cat who has some health challenges.

Caring for animals has always grounded me — it reminds me to lead with compassion, patience, and heart. It’s also a great balance to the fast pace of city work; no matter how busy the day gets, coming home to a loving pet puts everything in perspective.

What three endorsements are you most proud of & why?

I’m deeply proud to have the support of Everett Police and Fire. Public safety is Everett’s top priority, and these are the people who show up when you dial 911 — on your hardest day, they’re there for you. Their endorsement means a lot to me because it reflects a strong partnership built on trust, accountability, and a shared commitment to keeping our community safe.

I’m also honored to be endorsed by the Snohomish and Island County Labor Council, which represents more than 60 local unions — from city workers and grocery employees to laborers and carpenters who are literally building Everett’s future. Everett is a working-class city, and I’m proud to stand with the people who make our city run.

What is something about the job many people don’t realize, and why are you a good fit for addressing that aspect of the job?

Being Mayor of Everett is really like being the CEO of a large, complex organization. It’s not just about setting vision, but also managing people, balancing budgets, and making tough decisions that keep critical services running.

This job comes down to problem-solving under pressure, and that’s where my nonprofit background has been the perfect foundation. I’m used to doing mission-critical work with limited resources, leading strong teams, and operating with transparency and accountability to the public.

I’m also calm and steady in a crisis — whether it’s managing through the pandemic, addressing homelessness, or handling citywide emergencies, I take a solutions-focused approach. I love bringing people together, cutting through the noise, and finding a path forward that keeps Everett moving in the right direction.

What criticism have you received from your competitor or other people that is unfair, and why?

Public Safety:
My opponent says the police are underfunded, but the truth is Everett Police staffing is at an all-time high in the department’s history, with strong integrity standards and diverse recruitment. Both violent and property crime are down more than 20% since I took office. We’ve invested in new tools and innovation — like Flock cameras and our Drones as First Responders program — while strengthening oversight, training, and transparency.

At the same time, we’ve expanded outreach and crisis response programs that meet people where they are and connect them to care. Our Community Outreach, CARE Team, and fentanyl treatment pilot are helping people struggling with addiction, mental health challenges, and chronic homelessness. These programs are reducing visible homelessness and freeing up police to focus on real crime. That’s what true public safety looks like — compassion and accountability working together.

Homelessness:
My opponent has claimed that homelessness in Everett has increased by 94%, based on annual count data, but that’s a misunderstanding of how we conduct the count. It’s easier to count people who are sheltered, and since I became Mayor, we’ve dramatically increased shelter capacity by more than 300%. That means more people are now indoors, getting help, and therefore counted.

Meanwhile, visible homelessness — people living unsheltered on the streets — has gone down because we’re connecting more people to housing, treatment, and outreach. Everett has led with innovative, effective solutions like alternative response programs that send social workers and behavioral health experts to non-emergency calls, freeing officers for urgent responses. We’ve also created buffer zones around service areas to protect neighborhood businesses and reduce nuisance crimes.

It’s important to accurately count people experiencing homelessness so we can better understand the need and secure more state and federal resources to support those who need help most. Real progress means knowing where the challenges are, and taking action with compassion and accountability.

Fiscal Responsibility:

Everett’s long-term budget challenges stem from the state’s 1% property tax cap, which affects every city in Washington. From my first year in office, I’ve faced these challenges head-on — making smart and sometimes difficult decisions to reduce costs while protecting and even expanding essential services like fire, EMS, police, and infrastructure.

Over the past seven years, I’ve balanced the budget every single year while maintaining core services such as police, fire, and parks — even amid rising costs and state-level funding constraints. That’s meant streamlining operations and focusing on what matters most to our residents. We’ve expanded playgrounds, added dog parks, upgraded sports courts, improved trails, and completed major projects like the Silver Lake Trail — all while keeping Everett vibrant and healthy.

At the same time, I’ve grown our revenue base by attracting new businesses, advocating for state-shared revenues, supporting housing development, and securing millions in outside funding for public safety, infrastructure, and community programs. Everett is now on a strong, stable financial path heading into 2026, with healthy reserves, a robust rainy-day fund, and an award-winning finance department.

Reserves are important, but government isn’t a business; it exists to serve the public. Holding excessive public dollars means cutting the very services people rely on. We’re making sure your tax dollars are working for you — not sitting in the bank — funding public safety, parks, roads, housing, and services that improve quality of life for everyone in Everett.

I’ve made tough choices to keep Everett strong, secure, and fiscally sound, and I’ll keep making smart, sustainable decisions that protect essential services, support our most vulnerable neighbors, and keep our city thriving for generations to come.

What are you most excited to work on in your next term if reelected?

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished — expanding shelter capacity, reducing crime, and closing more than $100 million in budget deficits while protecting core services. Everett is on the right track, and I want to keep building on that success.

In my next term, I’m excited to continue advancing the initiatives that are working: expanding housing affordability and access so people at every income level can call Everett home; growing our alternative response teams and fentanyl treatment pilot to connect people to care and keep officers focused on crime; and expanding our drone first responder program and other technology innovations that are helping reduce response times and keep neighborhoods safe.

I also want to keep growing Everett’s economy and sense of community — bringing new businesses and industries here, supporting our local employers, and continuing to invest in the cultural events and public spaces that make Everett such a vibrant, welcoming place to live.

Everett is thriving because of collaboration and persistence, not quick fixes. My focus is on continuing the progress we’ve made, strengthening what works, and making sure our city remains safe, inclusive, and full of opportunity for everyone.

To learn more about Cassie Franklin, visit her campaign site.