MONUMENTAL TALKS 2026 – Mayor of Everett

Cassie Franklin

Cassie Franklin is Everett’s first elected female mayor and has served since 2018. She is recognized for delivering results through collaboration, innovation, and common-sense leadership, bringing people together to solve complex challenges while strengthening public safety, expanding economic opportunity, and enhancing quality of life. She has led Everett through a period of historic change, guiding the city through the COVID-19 pandemic while advancing long-term investments in public safety, housing, economic development, and infrastructure.

As mayor, Franklin leads a team of more than 1,200 public servants delivering essential city services, from public safety and public works to planning, parks, water, and economic development. Under her leadership, Everett has revitalized its downtown and waterfront, expanded housing choices, attracted new business investment, strengthened public safety, and planned for sustainable growth, including the arrival of regional light rail. She has also championed innovative approaches to behavioral health, community engagement, and long-term fiscal stewardship.

Franklin is an active leader at the regional and national levels. She serves on the Sound Transit Board of Directors, the Puget Sound Regional Council, the Economic Alliance Snohomish County Board of Trustees, and the Executive Council of Greater Seattle Partners. She is also active with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the Mayor’s Innovation Project, and Yale Mayors College.

Before serving as Mayor, Franklin served on the Everett City Council in 2015, including as the council’s vice president in 2017. Franklin also spent more than two decades leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening families and communities. From 2011-2017, Franklin was CEO of Cocoon House. During her tenure she collaborated with leaders across the region to develop best practices for serving at-risk youth and preventing homelessness and grew the organization into a regional and nationally recognized leader for its innovative solutions to youth homelessness. Those experiences continue to shape her belief that strong partnerships and compassionate, accountable leadership create lasting change.

Franklin earned her bachelor’s degree from Lewis & Clark College and completed graduate studies in psychology at the University of Munich, Germany, specializing in family systems therapy.

Away from City Hall, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She is the proud mother of one daughter and believes her greatest privilege has been raising a kind, strong, resilient young woman.