[Letter by Katherine Ross – City of Snoqualmie Mayor. Views expressed are those of the author, not the Living Snoqualmie website. You may submit letters of support for your candidate to info@livingsnoqualmie.com.]
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.
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.
Public Safety – 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:
- July 17, 2025 – Chamber Forum: Mayhew stated, “Let’s not do our own everything”, “let’s not do our own police force,” supporting outsourcing both police and fire services to outside agencies.
- September 18, 2025 – Living Snoqualmie Article: After community backlash, he reversed course, claiming he now supports keeping both departments local.
- October 18, 2025 – Living Snoqualmie Interview: Mayhew again hedged, saying “alternatives deserve open discussion,” reopening the door to outsourcing.
Flip-Flop: From proposing to eliminate Snoqualmie’s police and fire departments, to reversing himself, to leaving the door open again to outsourcing.
North Bend Police Contract – From Approval to Criticism
My Record: When I became Mayor, Snoqualmie was locked into a police services contract that subsidized North Bend nearly $1 million per year. I led the effort to renegotiate that agreement, ending the subsidy, setting a fair rate, and protecting Snoqualmie taxpayers.
Mayhew’s Record:
- 2019: As Finance & Administration Chair, he urged approval of a contract that locked taxpayers into roughly $6 million in subsidies over six years.
Flip-Flop: After championing the deal that cost taxpayers millions, Mayhew now criticizes the leadership that fixed it.
Community Center and Pool – From Support to Opposition
My Record: The Community Center Expansion and Pool is fully designed and shovel-ready, funded through one-time revenues and grants without raising taxes. The YMCA will operate the facility, keeping it affordable and sustainable for Snoqualmie families.
Mayhew’s Record:
- 2019: Voted to adopt Resolution 1520, formally rejecting joining the Si View proposal on a regional pool and directed the City to move forward with designing and building a Snoqualmie-based pool.
- 2022: Approved the Community Center Expansion and Pool in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan, supporting both the project concept and funding approach.
- 2023: 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.
Flip Flop: Mayhew now calls the same Snoqualmie pool design “too small” and is promoting a North Bend-led regional pool, a model that’s already failed three times at the ballot. His new plan would 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.
Nonpartisan Leadership
My Record:
The roles of Mayor and City Council are nonpartisan (Washington RCW 29A.52.231), and I take that responsibility seriously. I represent all residents and keep local issues above politics. I’m proud of my endorsements by mayors and councilmembers across the Snoqualmie Valley and Eastside who value collaboration, accountability, and results over partisanship.
Mayhew’s Record:
He has accepted partisan endorsements, signaling an intent to represent one party’s interests even though nearly half of Snoqualmie voters aren’t affiliated with that party. Several of his council allies have followed suit, a troubling shift away from the independent, collaborative leadership our city deserves.
Bottom Line
Snoqualmie deserves steady, honest leadership focused on results, not politics. I have worked to protect public safety, strengthen our finances, and deliver real progress for Snoqualmie.
My opponent’s shifting positions show a pattern of political convenience over principle. That’s not what our city needs.
To keep Snoqualmie safe, transparent, and well-managed, I ask for your support.
Please vote to re-elect Katherine Ross for Mayor by November 4.
Dedicated to Snoqualmie’s future,
Katherine Ross
Mayor and Candidate, City of Snoqualmie
Click here to read more about my accomplishments and priorities: https://mayorrossforsnoqualmie.com/
Watch Candidate Mayor Ross’s Message to Snoqualmie on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tSbPkCJ5PLA?list=PLkMAl3EuKs1ICRsgHewxsfl9OPU-vJLOk
Comments
I’d like to provide some clarification on the claims made above about the pool. To be clear, I am writing on my own behalf and not on behalf of the SVAC or any other group.
I’ve been a representative on the Snoqualmie Valley Aquatics Collaborative since January when it formed, along with representatives from Si View, North Bend, SVSD, Fall City, and the Mt. Si Senior Center. At the time of formation, an invitation was sent to Snoqualmie’s administration asking for representation as well, but no response was received.
There has been no discussion within the group that I am aware of of an option that would create a new taxing district to raise anyone’s property taxes. There are many other ways this project can get done, and we have been discussing them.
The initial recommendation that went out this past month made it clear that there is openness to other appropriate locations if other partners emerge. As the Snoqualmie City Council appointed two representatives to the SVAC at the end of September, I’m looking forward to seeing where that conversation goes.
As with all our discussions and decisions, we are focused on digging into what residents throughout Snoqualmie Valley prioritize when it comes to getting this project finally done for them. They have been clear in recent years that they are tired of the lack of cooperation on this issue and simply need the problem solved. It’s unfortunate that misinformation continues to circulate that makes this more difficult.
I’m grateful for the creative, positive, and forward-thinking leaders who have already been a part of this conversation, and for those who are beginning to be a part of it. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and residents are depending on us to do it transparently and honestly.