Everett mayoral race A closer look on their visions

Everett's mayoral election pits incumbent Cassie Franklin against former City Council member Scott Murphy on Nov. 4, with rising homelessness as a key issue. According to Snohomish County’s Point-in-Time Count, homelessness in Everett rose 95% from 2018 to 2025, with an 18% increase in the last year alone. Franklin touts her administration's 300% increase in shelter capacity and plans to expand crisis response teams and partnerships with service providers. Conversely, Murphy criticizes the handling of homelessness under Franklin, promising to conduct strategic reviews and enhance mental health outreach.

On financial stability, Franklin claims to have balanced the budget while maintaining city services, while Murphy warns that the city's rainy day fund could decline from $55 million to $33. 8 million by 2025. He advocates for a new approach to budgeting that includes eliminating temporary measures and modernizing city operations. Both candidates agree on the importance of restoring public safety to foster a thriving community. Their differing strategies reflect contrasting visions for Everett’s economic future.