This week, we formally asked the Everett City Council to hire outside legal counsel to defend the voter-approved watershed protection law. At this time, we don’t know if the Council has begun considering our request — but we hope they are taking it seriously.

Hiring independent counsel is a critical step to ensure the law is defended effectively and without conflict of interest. It’s about protecting our river — and respecting the will of the voters.

For context, public PDC filings show that Mayor Franklin, Council President Don Schwab, and Councilmember Ben Zarlingo have received campaign contributions from the Master Builders Association PAC of King and Snohomish Counties — the well-funded group suing to overturn this law.

Council President Schwab will guide the request through the process. While we are not questioning anyone’s integrity, transparency is essential. The public deserves to know that any potential conflicts are being addressed, and that decisions affecting our watershed and our democracy are being made independently and in good faith.

Our message is simple: Protect the river. Defend the law. Honor the public’s trust.

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