Mayhew Created Hostile Work Environment for City Staff: Our employees deserve a workplace defined by respect, integrity, and collaboration, not tension or intimidation. I will continue to ensure Snoqualmie’s leadership culture remains grounded in trust, honesty, professionalism, and accountability.
As your Mayor and fellow resident, I care deeply about this community and the values we share. I have worked hard to lead Snoqualmie with honesty, consistency, and results. You deserve leaders who stand by their principles, not those who change their message depending on the audience or the moment. Here's my Letter to the Editor where I set the record straight.
My opponent, Jim Mayhew, has taken different positions on the issues that matter most to our city. I believe you deserve a clear picture of where we each stand and who has remained consistent.
From the start, I’ve been intentional about not seeking endorsements from Snoqualmie City Councilmembers or staff, because maintaining professional, respectful working relationships, free from political pressure, has always been a priority of my leadership. The roles of Mayor and City Council are nonpartisan under Washington law (RCW 29A.52.231), and I take that responsibility seriously. I represent all residents and keep local issues above politics.
By contrast, Mayhew has accepted partisan endorsements, signaling an intent to represent one party’s interests, even though nearly half of Snoqualmie voters are not affiliated with that party. Many of his city council endorsements echoed this partisanship, a troubling shift away from the independent, collaborative leadership our city deserves. This was reflected when three councilmembers wrote a letter to the editor falsely claiming Snoqualmie did not have a Fire Chief. That statement was not only untrue, we have a strong, accredited Fire Department and an experienced Fire Chief, but also harmful. This type of dishonesty and rhetoric, the same approach used by Mayhew throughout his campaign, caused unnecessary disruption for our Fire Chief, city staff, and residents, undermining confidence in a professional team that works tirelessly to keep Snoqualmie safe.
I am honored to be endorsed by residents, friends, and regional leaders who care deeply about Snoqualmie and our region. These endorsements reflect the strong partnerships I’ve built with mayors and councilmembers across the Snoqualmie Valley and Eastside as we’ve worked alongside on key committees and initiatives to address regional issues that affect us all. (Check out the Endorsements page.)
Police & Fire Local Control vs. Outsourcing
My record: I have worked hard to ensure our police and fire services remain local, accountable, and responsive to the people of Snoqualmie. Our safety is too important to outsource to outside agencies.
Mayhew’s Record:
Flip-Flop: From proposing to eliminate Snoqualmie’s police and fire departments, to reversing himself, to leaving the door open again to outsourcing. Mayhew's shifting stance on something as critical as public safety raises serious concerns about consistency and credibility. Is this indecision or simply an attempt to tell voters what he thinks they want to hear?
His endorsement from the Eastside Firefighters raises important questions about his intentions specifically, whether he’s considering outsourcing Snoqualmie’s fire services to Eastside Fire, the very agency that would benefit from such a move.
I’ve taken a different approach, investing in our own department by adding three new firefighters and additional EMS volunteers, reducing overtime, and keeping Snoqualmie’s fire services local and strong for our community’s safety.
As Mayor, I take my duty to protect Snoqualmie residents seriously. Public safety is our top priority. That’s why under my leadership:
Local Officers, Local Accountability
Snoqualmie officers are deeply connected to our community, they know our neighborhoods, businesses, and families. That local connection delivers faster response times, better service, and keeps Snoqualmie one of Washington’s safest cities.
I will always stand up for decisive, honest leadership, fiscal responsibility and the safety of Snoqualmie residents.
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North Bend Police Contract: Setting the Record Straight
The 2019 Police Services Interlocal Agreement (ILA) locked Snoqualmie into years of subsidizing North Bend’s police coverage up to $1 million per year (approximately $6 million during the term of the ILA).
North Bend represented 46 percent of total calls for service but paid only 27 percent of total costs, leaving Snoqualmie taxpayers to subsidize more than $1 million per year.
The ILA’s termination clause required Snoqualmie to continue providing service for up to 18 months at 2024 rates + 5 percent, extending the subsidy.
Even though Snoqualmie’s 2025 proposal to North Bend received the highest-score and was the lowest-cost option, the decision wasn’t about price or performance. It reflected North Bend’s effort to shift its own fiscal pressures rather than pay a fair rate for services. At the May 6, 2025 North Bend City Council meeting (timestamp 1:57:30), Councilmember Torguson called the arrangement “the best financial model,” noting it would save North Bend $2.5 million taken directly from Snoqualmie residents while North Bend banked funds for a future King County Sheriff’s contract.
Correcting the Imbalance
In September 2025, both city councils approved a new police services agreement that:
Setting the Record Straight on Mayhew
In his October 18, 2025 Living Snoqualmie article, Jim Mayhew mischaracterized the issue.
The record is clear: he helped approve the flawed 2019 contract that created the subsidy.
Now he criticizes the very solution that ended it, while claiming to stand for fiscal responsibility.
Rebuilding from Instability
When I took office in 2022, the City had only two permanent directors, two departments without any leadership, and five interim directors, a clear reflection of the instability I inherited, not created. Many employees had retired or resigned during COVID, leaving a 30% staff vacancy rate, low morale, and outdated systems, while others left for cities offering better pay and career growth.
Setting the Record Straight
My opponent’s claim that “some directors have turned over three times” is simply false. Most of that turnover occurred before I became Mayor, and it understandably took time to rebuild a strong leadership team. In fact, while on Council, Mayhew often dismissed our staff’s professional expertise in areas he claimed to know best, contributing to the very instability he now criticizes.
Delivering Results
From day one, I focused on rebuilding trust, improving morale, and modernizing how our city operates. We got to work and delivered results:
A Strong, Stable Team
Some turnover is normal during periods of modernization and new leadership. But unlike the situation I inherited, today our city is stronger than ever. We now have an excellent, experienced leadership team providing stability and direction across every department:
Professional, Service-Oriented Leadership
Our city government is now more engaged, professional, and service-oriented than ever before delivering efficient operations, stronger communication, and high-quality service to our residents. Be sure to read Cat Cotton's Living Snoqualmie Letter to the Editor recognizing the hard work and professionalism of our City staff.
Leadership and Workplace Culture
Leadership and culture matter. I believe in steady, respectful, results-focused leadership that values professionalism and accountability. During my opponent’s time on council, concerns about workplace conduct were raised on multiple occasions, including a public exchange at the March 27, 2021, council retreat (see video at top of this page). These episodes are real, and they are relevant when we talk about the kind of leadership and workplace culture, we want at City Hall.
The behaviors Mayhew displayed during that period raised serious concerns about how he treats staff and colleagues and what kind of culture he would create if elected. A return to that environment would undermine the professionalism, respect, and collaboration we’ve worked hard to rebuild.
Our employees deserve a workplace defined by respect, integrity, and collaboration, not tension or intimidation. I will continue to ensure Snoqualmie’s leadership culture remains grounded in trust, honesty, professionalism, and accountability.
Mayhew's recent claims about “steep tax hikes” and “targeted increases” on residents and local businesses are simply not accurate. Here are the facts:
Role of the Mayor vs. Council
Utility Rates: Reliability and Safety
Fee Study: Fairness and Accountability
Business Fairness, Not Targeted Hikes
Our focus is on fairness and compliance, not on targeting local businesses. The auditing of revenue accounts including business license and B&O compliance reviews, ensures every business plays by the same rules and contributes its fair share, protecting those who already comply. This initiative was supported by the Council, including Mayhew, when it was reviewed to strengthen transparency and fairness in how the City manages revenues.
Fiscal responsibility has guided every decision I’ve made as Mayor. We’ve strengthened city finances through careful planning, transparent budgeting, and responsible utility and fee updates that reflect the true cost of services while keeping Snoqualmie affordable. Through this disciplined approach, Snoqualmie remains financially stable, transparent, and well-managed, with strong reserves and a balanced budget that supports both essential services and community priorities.
Mayhew claims that transparency has declined under my leadership. Let's look at the facts.
I’ve consistently shared outcomes and information with the public because residents deserve clear, honest communication. Information is discussed openly, reported regularly, and shared across multiple platforms. Transparency has been and continues to be a top priority of my administration.
My Opponent's Record of Double Standards
Contrast that with Mayhew’s own record. In 2021, while serving treasurer of a Political Action Committee opposing a mayoral candidate, he filed a required state campaign report 57 days late. He dismissed the complaint as a “nuisance,” but ultimately paid a penalty for failing to comply with public disclosure requirements.
When he was Mayor Pro Tem and Finance Committee Chair, he regularly approved executive sessions, the very process he now criticizes. Executive sessions are a standard, legal part of city governance, but it’s disingenuous to participate in them for years and then accuse others of “concealed decisions.”
Expanding Communications and Access
Under my leadership, transparency has expanded significantly. We’ve made real progress in connecting residents with their government through new communications tools and public engagement.
These aren’t small wins, they reflect meaningful, sustained leadership that puts people first:
I’ve doorbelled over 2,000 homes across Snoqualmie and loved talking with residents about what matters most. One question I heard again and again: “When are we going to get our pool?” Your priorities - public safety, housing affordability, fiscal responsibility, and the community center expansion with a pool continue to guide my work.
As Mayor, I also attend and engage at community events year-round, from National Night Out with Police and Navaratri celebrations, to the International Block Party, City-hosted events, and Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce meetings, luncheons and ribbon cuttings. These gatherings strengthen relationships, promote dialogue, and help ensure every resident feels heard and included.
We continue to engage community leaders and organizations to ensure a wide range of voices help shape decisions that affect Snoqualmie’s future.
True Collaboration, Not Self-Promotion
While Mayhew portrays collaboration as lacking, his own statements often tell another story. He says, "a community’s future should be shaped collaboratively, not by one person," yet his website and forum remarks repeatedly frame accomplishments as "I" statements, claiming sole credit for outcomes that required teamwork by Mayor, Council, staff, and regional partners. True collaboration means recognizing the shared effort of others, not overstating individual involvement.
Proven Partnership and Results
As Mayor, I’ve consistently shown up, built strong relationships, and delivered results for Snoqualmie. I represent our city regionally and ensure our voice is heard across King County:
Leadership You Can Trust
Snoqualmie deserves consistent, honest leadership, not double standards. I will continue leading with integrity, fiscal responsibility, and open communication to keep our community safe, well-run, and transparent.
Investing in Health, Safety, and Community
The Community Center Expansion and aquatics facility (CCE) is one of our important capital projects for the health, safety, and well-being of our residents of all ages. This project is fully designed and shovel-ready, featuring a six-lane competition pool suitable for high school swim teams and a separate recreation/therapy pool with a current channel, ideal for seniors and families to exercise.
For nearly a decade, the City has been setting aside one-time, non-recurring tax revenues to fund this project and has actively pursued regional and grant funding opportunities, without raising taxes. Importantly, funding for the CCE does not reduce or delay other essential capital investments such as infrastructure upgrades, road maintenance, or park improvements.
Sustainable Operations Through Partnership
Long-term maintenance and operations of the community center will be managed through the YMCA, ensuring the city will not be responsible for ongoing maintenance or operating costs. Access will be open to everyone through a membership, day pass, or scholarships and Snoqualmie residents will enjoy one free swim day each week. This partnership ensures long-term sustainability while keeping the facility affordable and accessible.
Collaboration Invited, But Not Reciprocated
The City has repeatedly sought regional collaboration. In May 2024, I invited both Si View Metro Parks District, North Bend City Council and other community partners to meet and discuss joint aquatics opportunities. Only one Si View commissioner responded to that invitation. We would welcome collaboration with regional partners for the Snoqualmie aquatics facility.
We are planning to participate in the Snoqualmie Valley Aquatics Collaborative, a new regional effort to discuss long-term aquatics needs. However, so far, that group appears focused only on building a pool in North Bend, even though Snoqualmie is centrally located, has the largest population in the Valley, and already has a fully designed, shovel-ready project. Our city remains the most practical and cost-effective location to meet regional demand.
My Opponent's Flip Flop
When Mayhew served on the City Council, he helped plan and approve the Snoqualmie Community Center Expansion and Pool project.
· 2019: Mayhew voted to adopt Resolution 1520, formally rejecting joining the Si View proposal on a reginal pool and directed the City to move forward with designing and building a Snoqualmie based pool.
· 2022: Mayhew approved the Community Center Expansion and Pool in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, supporting both the project concept and funding approach.
· 2023: Mayhew approved the design-build contract after thoroughly reviewing concept drawings and financial plans outlining the project’s scope, amenities, and sustainability features. Mayhew urged fellow councilmembers to reach out to state legislators to help secure additional funding.
The design Mayhew supported features a competition-size pool the same size as Issaquah’s Boehm Pool, Juanita Pool, and Evergreen Pool and larger than the Sammamish YMCA pool. The separate recreation and therapy pool is also larger than those in most peer city facilities, providing a true community asset for families, youth, and seniors alike.
Mayhew' recent reversal now calls the same Snoqualmie pool design “too small” and is advocating for a North Bend-led regional pool, a model that’s already failed three times at the ballot and even required returning a $4 million grant when the project fell through. His new plan could divert Snoqualmie’s $22 million to another city or create a new taxing district that raises your property taxes to fund a pool outside Snoqualmie, reversing years of local progress.
Snoqualmie’s aquatics project is fully designed, shovel-ready, and right-sized to meet the needs of our community and it has strong local support to move forward without delay.
My Opponent is Not for the Kids: Opposing Splash Pad & All-Inclusive Playground
Snoqualmie is the natural home for a Valley aquatics facility, it is centrally located, home to the largest population in the Upper Valley, and more than 30% of residents are under 18, with many others commuting here daily for school and activities.
Yet, Jim Mayhew voted NO on the splash pad, a project that has brought measurable economic and community benefits and previously suggested returning a major state grant for the Centennial Fields all-inclusive playground instead of completing it. These actions show a pattern of opposing projects that directly benefit Snoqualmie families. Jim Mayhew is out of touch with our community, and he will not support the Community Center Expansion project, leaving the Snoqualmie Valley without an aquatics center.
Moving Forward
The Community Center Expansion is about more than a pool, it’s about investing in our city’s future, strengthening community connections, and providing opportunities for youth, seniors, and families alike. It’s time to move forward and deliver the aquatics center and expanded community space Snoqualmie deserves.
It’s an honor to serve as your Mayor, and I appreciate the chance to share my vision for Snoqualmie’s future. What I offer is clear: honest leadership, proven results, and a strong track record of doing the work.
As Mayor, I’ve stayed focused on what matters, protecting what makes Snoqualmie special while preparing our community for the future. That includes:
I lead with fiscal responsibility, transparency, and meaningful community engagement, because when residents are heard, government works better. I’ve shown up, listened, and built strong partnerships to get things done. I’m running to keep serving this community and building on the progress we’ve made together.
I’m the only candidate with proven executive experience leading city operations. With a record of honest leadership and real progress, I’d be honored to earn your support. Together, we can keep Snoqualmie moving forward.
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