Published April 2005

Reardon’s initiatives
hold promise for county

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon has done a lot of things right during his first year at the county’ helm.

His recent state-of-the-county address, delivered to the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, included much-needed ventures, including emphasizing and aiding the growth of agriculture as a part of the county’s economy.

Reardon also noted the county’s budget is “back on track and in the black.” He reiterated his focus on creating new jobs, promoted the importance of an entrepreneurial view in the county and launched a new initiative to crack down on meth labs, urging businesses to voluntarily limit access to key ingredients used to make that lethal drug.

He closed a $16 million shortfall in the 2004 budget without raising taxes and announced plans to partner with private businesses to increase jobs in the county and grow the local tax base.

Reardon also is spearheading an effort to locate a new four-year public university in Snohomish County and promotion of an “aerospace hub” around Paine Field that would leverage the presence of Boeing, Goodrich, the new Future of Flight Aviation Center and the new Hilton Garden Inn.

His “agriculture action plan” will focus on farm regulation reform, economic agricultural development, preserving cultural heritage, outreach and education programs. His urban core development plans include new partnerships with cities in the county to promote both economic and social health.

He’s also creating a new Economic Development Team within county government to promote jobs and practice regulatory reform, boosting efforts already under way in the private sector. And, he’s promoting high-tech advances in county government operations.

With those programs and others in place, his second year in office holds opportunities for many more positive advances in county government.

Back to the top/April 2005 Main Menu