Dave Somers

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Dave Somers
5th Snohomish County Executive
Assumed office
January 4, 2016
Preceded byJohn Lovick
Chair of the Snohomish County Council
In office
January 1, 2014 – January 4, 2016
Preceded byStephanie Wright
Succeeded byTerry Ryan
In office
January 1, 2010 – January 1, 2012
Preceded byMike Cooper
Succeeded byBrian Sullivan
In office
January 1, 2008 – January 1, 2009
Preceded byDave Gossett
Succeeded byMike Cooper
Member of the Snohomish County Council
from the 5th district
In office
January 1, 2006 – January 4, 2016
Preceded byJeff Sax
Succeeded byHans Dunshee
In office
January 1, 1998 – January 1, 2002
Preceded byR.C. Johnson
Succeeded byJeff Sax
Personal details
Born1953 (age 70–71)
Napa, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseElaine Somers
Residence(s)Monroe, Washington, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Washington (BS, MS)
OccupationFisheries biologist

David J. Somers (born 1953) is an American politician and fisheries biologist serving as the Snohomish County Executive, an office he has held since 2016. Somers previously served on the Snohomish County Council, representing the 5th district in the eastern portion of the county.

Early life and career[edit]

Somers was raised in Napa, California and studied at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, before moving to the Seattle area to attend the University of Washington. There, he earned a bachelor's degree in fisheries science and later returned to complete a master's degree in forest ecology. Somers was employed as a fisheries biologist by the Tulalip Tribes from 1979 to 1997.[1][2]

Career[edit]

County Council[edit]

Somers was elected to the Snohomish County Council from the 5th district in 1997, defeating incumbent Democrat R.C. "Swede" Johnson in the primary election and facing a Republican write-in candidate in the general election.[3][4] Somers was elected on a platform of making real estate developers accountable for strains on infrastructure created by new housing in the county, including roads and schools.[5]

Somers was defeated in 2001 by Republican Jeff Sax,[6] whose campaign called Somers a "committed socialist" before retracting the statement. Sax favored local control of land use, opposing the state's Washington State Growth Management Act and federal policies.[7] Somers campaigned again in 2005, facing Sax for his former council seat, and won by a narrow margin.[8][9] Somers was re-elected to a third term in 2009, defeating Republican restaurant owner Steve Dana.[10][11]

During his time on the County Council, Somers focused on land use regulation and strengthening environmental protections.[12]

County Executive[edit]

Somers announced his candidacy for the county executive office in May 2015, challenging incumbent Democrat John Lovick, appointed to the position in 2013 after the resignation of Aaron Reardon.[13] In the primary election, Somers narrowly beat Lovick, and the two Democrats advanced to the general election ahead of two Republicans and an independent candidate.[1] Somers won the general election and was sworn into office as the county's fifth executive in January 2016.[14] State Representative Hans Dunshee was chosen in February to complete the rest of Somers's term in the County Council.[15]

In addition to his duties as County Executive, Somers joined the Sound Transit Board in January 2016 and was named the board chair in January 2017.[16][17] Somers was also elected the vice president of the Puget Sound Regional Council, a regional planning organization, in January 2016.[18]

Somers ran unopposed for his second term in the 2019 election. He ran for a third term in 2023 and advanced from the primary election with 52 percent of votes alongside Republican challenger Bob Hagglund.[19][20] Somers defeated Hagglund in the general election with 60 percent of votes and will serve his final term (due to term limits) from 2024 to 2028.[21][22]

Personal life[edit]

Somers met his wife Elaine while the two were in the University of Washington Husky Marching Band. Somers played the tuba for two years,[23] served as Drum Major for three years, and marched playing bass drum at the 1978 Rose Bowl.[24][25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Haglund, Noah (October 17, 2015). "Somers vs. Lovick: Same party, drastically different plans to lead Snohomish County". The Everett Herald. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  2. ^ Haglund, Noah (October 15, 2009). "Dana, Somers split on what should matter for county". The Everett Herald. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  3. ^ Brooks, Diane (October 31, 1997). "Write-in candidate takes on Democrat". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  4. ^ Brooks, Diane (November 5, 1997). "Snohomish County Council—It's Democrats' night: Somers wins; Cothern, Larsen ahead". The Seattle Times. p. B5. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  5. ^ Brooks, Diane (September 11, 1997). "Property rights spotlighted in council race—Johnson faces challenge from Somers in contest focused on county's growth". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Brooks, Diane (November 8, 2001). "Power shifts, yet again, in Snohomish County". The Seattle Times. p. B4. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  7. ^ Brooks, Diane (October 29, 2001). "It's growth control vs. freer use of the land". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  8. ^ Schwarzen, Christopher (November 9, 2005). "Somers dominating rematch with Sax". The Seattle Times. p. A20. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  9. ^ "Official Snohomish County Election Results: November 8, 2005 General Election". Snohomish County Elections. November 29, 2005. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  10. ^ "Election Results Show Little Change". Mukilteo Beacon. November 25, 2009.
  11. ^ "Official Snohomish County Election Results: November 3, 2009 General Election". Snohomish County Elections. November 24, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  12. ^ Thompson, Lynn (October 25, 2009). "Pressures of growth heat up 3 Snohomish County Council races". The Seattle Times. p. B2. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  13. ^ "Somers running against Lovick for county executive". The Everett Herald. May 11, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  14. ^ Haglund, Noah (January 5, 2016). "County Executive Somers settles into office". The Everett Herald. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  15. ^ Haglund, Noah (February 29, 2016). "Snohomish County Council picks Dunshee to replace Somers". The Everett Herald. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  16. ^ "County executive, Edmonds mayor join Sound Transit board". The Everett Herald. January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  17. ^ Haglund, Noah (January 26, 2017). "Somers takes over as chairman of Sound Transit board". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  18. ^ "Executive Somers named PSRC Vice President". Puget Sound Regional Council. January 7, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  19. ^ Dunn, Kayla J. (January 21, 2023). "Somers to run for third and final term as Snohomish County executive". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  20. ^ Hansen, Jordan (October 17, 2023). "Somers, Hagglund face off in county executive race". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  21. ^ Baumbach, Jenelle (November 7, 2023). "Incumbents lead for Snohomish County executive, council, assessor". The Everett Herald. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Results – Snohomish County General Election 2023". Snohomish County Elections. November 28, 2023. p. 1. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Blowing their own horns". The Arlington Times. July 25, 2001. p. A3.
  24. ^ "About the Executive – Dave Somers". Snohomish County. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  25. ^ Dunn, Kayla J. (May 13, 2023). "On front lines of fentanyl crisis, Somers mourns brother's overdose". The Everett Herald. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
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