Ride-Along with Drug Task Force 

As part of my efforts to stay informed on the issues facing our communities, I occasionally participate in ride-alongs with our Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and partner agencies. These opportunities provide on-the-ground information and firsthand experience to help inform my decision-making on the County Council.  

On July 6th, I participated in a ride-along with the Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF) in South Snohomish County. There is a current emphasis on the area of Airport Way & Highway 99 due to the large concentration of drug activity (including fentanyl) as well as theft from retail businesses. 

This data, along with my experience from this most recent ride-along, underscores the importance of taking concrete action to address rising crime and increase community safety in our state. I appreciate the members of the SRDRF who took the time to show me first-hand the issues they deal with on a regular basis. I will be working with the Sheriff and my fellow Councilmembers to find ways that we can address these issues at the local level in anticipation of action by the State Legislature to help address this crisis.  

Braver Angels Event 

I am committed to finding ways to build bridges in Snohomish County between elected officials, community leaders, and residents to identify policy solutions that work for all of us. The national political discourse and media obsession with division in politics can leave many individuals feeling hopeless about the state of politics in our country.  

While we cannot fix the national political environment overnight, we can start at the local level by lowering the temperature and engaging in civil discourse. This can provide us with an opportunity to find common ground and potential solutions to the issues facing our communities. 

As part of this effort, I joined Braver Angels for a dinner conversation and political discourse event on July 8th in Mukilteo. The event brought together Republicans and Democrats from different areas of Snohomish County to have a discussion on local issues ranging from housing to public safety to environmental sustainability. 

I appreciate everyone who attended and the Braver Angels organization for facilitating a great discussion. This event will be featured in an upcoming documentary on combatting polarization by Academy Award winning director Barbara Kopple. To learn more about the work of Braver Angels, please visit their website at this link. 

SWISS Collaboration and Organization Efforts 

In 2020, I worked with elected officials from Snohomish, Whatcom, Island, Skagit, and San Juan Counties to create the SWISS Counties group. SWISS is made up of county elected official from all 5 counties and its mission is to identify common issues facing our communities and potential solutions that cross county boundaries.  

Earlier this year, we created a partnership with the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) to provide organizational support for SWISS. On July 21st, I met with staff from WSAC to discuss our vision for SWISS and how we can be more effective in our regional collaboration and advocacy.  

I am excited to see SWISS become a more effective organization with the help from WSAC to move our shared priorities forward.  

Snohomish Conservation District Field Day 

Farming and agriculture are critical sectors of our economy in North Snohomish County. Managing the relationship between farming, fish, and forests is critical work to ensure that we maintain a healthy environment and economy.  

The Snohomish Conservation District (SCD) does great work partnering with farmers and non-profits to do conservation projects across the county. On July 26th, I had the opportunity to join Councilmember Sam Low and Snohomish County Agricultural Coordinator Linda Neunzig at SCD’s “Farm, Fish, and Forest” Field Day in North Snohomish County.  

We joined SCD staff, community members, farmers, and other interested parties in Arlington and Darrington to visit some of the farms and other locations of local conservation projects. I appreciate the partnerships that make this important work happen throughout the county.  

State of the Tribe Address 

On Friday, July 29th, I attended Tulalip Tribes Chairwoman Teri Gobin’s “State of Tulalip” address. The event was hosted by the Marysville-Tulalip Chamber of Commerce. Chairwoman Gobin provided an update on the economic activity and programs being led by the Tulalip Tribes.  

The Tulalip Tribes have been great partners with Snohomish County on issues including economic development, public safety, and conservation & sustainability. I appreciated the opportunity to hear about their ongoing work and look forward to continued partnership. 

I send out monthly newsletters to keep you informed about what I am working on and how I am representing North Snohomish County on the County Council. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate in reaching out to me at Nate.Nehring@snoco.org or 425-512-4810.   

Sincerely,    

Nate Nehring  
Councilmember, District 1