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Rich Ryan (Mayor of Everett, Washington, candidate 2025)
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Rich Ryan ran for election to the Mayor of Everett in Washington. He was on the ballot in the primary on August 5, 2025.[source]
Ryan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Rich Ryan provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 6, 2025:
- Birth date: March 21, 1981
- Birth place: Daly City, California
- High school: Anderson Valley High School
- Gender: Male
- Religion: non-denominational
- Profession: IT Manager
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Rich Ryan - For a better Everett
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
General election for Mayor of Everett
Cassie Franklin and Scott Murphy are running in the general election for Mayor of Everett on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
Cassie Franklin (Nonpartisan)  | ||
| Scott Murphy (Nonpartisan) | ||
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Mayor of Everett
Cassie Franklin, Janice R. Greene, Scott Murphy, and Rich Ryan ran in the primary for Mayor of Everett on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Cassie Franklin (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Janice R. Greene (Nonpartisan) | ||
| Scott Murphy (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Rich Ryan (Nonpartisan) | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Rich Ryan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ryan's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Cities like Houston have shown us what’s possible, they cut homelessness by over 60% by putting housing first, coordinating services, and building real partnerships. Everett deserves that same focus and urgency.
Who am I? I’m someone who believes that your zip code should not decide your worth, that good people can and should hold power to help their neighbors, and that we can break these cycles together. I’m not asking you to trust another politician; I’m asking you to believe in what we can do when we have leadership that knows how to listen. When we have leaders who have walked through the fire and come out the other side with compassion and resolve.Everett is worth fighting for; our kids are worth fighting for; and our most vulnerable neighbors are worth fighting for. I’m ready to do the work, because I’ve done it my entire life.
- I’m not a career politician; I’m a survivor. I ran away at 12 and spent four years homeless. I’ve seen what doesn’t work and what does. Everett deserves real solutions; not more excuses. My plan starts with housing people first, protecting renters, and tackling addiction and homelessness with compassion and proven tools that lift people up, not push them out.
- Everett is 51% renters; I’m the only renter running. I know what it’s like to worry about rent while corporate landlords raise prices and the city hands out tax breaks with no accountability. We need housing people can actually afford, not luxury condos we can’t live in. I’ll push for strong tenant protections, starter homes for working families, and smart growth that fits each neighborhood. Community safety means safe streets, clear roads in winter, and real help for people facing addiction and homelessness. Leadership means fixing what’s broken before building shiny new projects. That’s the promise: work before playtime.
- I’m committed to transparent, accountable leadership that listens and works for everyday people. Our city government must serve all residents, not just special interests or big developers. I’ll fight to restore trust by making decisions openly, involving the community, and leading with integrity. From protecting vital community programs like the Early Learning Center, to ensuring our tax dollars support people, not corporate handouts. This campaign is about building a fair, thriving Everett for everyone.
Bernie taught us that politics should be about lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. He reminded millions of people, young and old, that it’s okay to demand more from our leaders and our systems. He’s never been afraid to call out greed, corruption, or injustice, no matter how powerful the opposition.
What I respect most is that he never forgot who he was fighting for: the working class, the renters, the people who struggle to pay medical bills, the folks working two or three jobs just to make rent. He never sold out, he never took the easy way, and he never stopped trying to build a movement bigger than himself.
That’s what I want to bring to Everett. I’m not a career politician. I’m a working class guy who knows what it’s like to go without. Bernie’s example shows me that you can stay true to your principles and still get things done, that you don’t have to sell your soul for a seat at the table.
Integrity means making decisions based on what is right and just, rather than political convenience or personal gain. It requires leaders to remain accountable to their community, uphold high ethical standards, and admit mistakes when they occur. Integrity ensures that leadership is consistent and principled.
Transparency means making government actions visible and understandable to the public. It involves clear communication about policies, budgets, and decision-making processes. Transparent leadership encourages civic engagement and fosters a government that is responsible and inclusive.
People tell me they’re sick of leaders who smile for the cameras but disappear when the real work starts. I show up. I stand up and I don’t back down when things get uncomfortable. I ask tough questions that people in power would rather avoid, and I’m not afraid to stand alone if that’s what doing the right thing requires.
I’ve always been a connector, and a helper. I believe in radical, in your face, transparency and honesty. If something’s broken, I’ll say so. If we need to fix it together, I’ll be the first one to roll up my sleeves and get to work.
I’m 110% relentless. When people have told me I can’t change things, I didn’t listen, and I won’t as your mayor either. I believe leadership is about protecting people who don’t have a seat at the table, renters who feel voiceless, seniors living on the edge, veterans struggling to get by, kids who deserve better than crumbling systems and broken promises.
I know how to turn my own struggle into fuel for action. I know how to stand my ground when the pressure is on. I don’t owe anything to lobbyists or big money interests. I owe everything to the people who believe in this city and deserve a mayor who believes in them just as fiercely.
Second, we must actively oppose fascism and any threat to our democracy. The rise of authoritarianism, hate, and division poses a direct danger to our community’s values of inclusion, fairness, and respect. Public officials have a solemn duty to protect civil rights, promote equity, and include everyone. We cannot be complacent or silent when these threats emerge; leadership demands courage to speak out and act decisively against hatred and oppression.
Third, protecting public dollars is fundamental to maintaining trust and accountability in government. Taxpayer money should be managed transparently, invested wisely, and spent on programs and services that truly benefit our community. This means rooting out waste and corruption, demanding clear budgets that prioritize essential services, and ensuring that investments reflect the priorities of everyday Everett residents.
I want Everett to be a place where working people can afford to live without constantly worrying about being pushed out. Where 51% of our residents who rent don’t feel like second class citizens. Where we fight for housing solutions that work, so the next generation doesn’t spend years couch surfing or living on the streets like I did when I was a kid.
I want Everett to be the proud central hub of Snohomish County. A place where people want to raise families, open small businesses, grow old, and feel rooted. A city that sets an example for the rest of Washington when it comes to protecting the vulnerable, investing in youth, and refusing to settle for empty promises from leaders who are all talk.
I want my legacy to be more than a plaque or a photo in a hallway. I want it to live in the teachers who can afford to stay here and inspire kids; in the seniors who feel seen and supported; in the young people who stay in Everett because they know they can build a future here.
When I’m gone, I want folks to look back and say: that guy never gave up on us. He listened when nobody else would; he fought when others told him to stand down; he showed us that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when we work together and lead with our hearts.
When I was twelve, I ran away from home and spent years homeless. I survived because regular people stepped in, it wasn’t government that saved me. It was neighbors, teachers, coaches, everyday folks who didn’t say “not my problem.” They said, “How can I help?” That shaped my entire belief about what real community means: we don’t abandon each other when things get hard.
It’s still a struggle today to see the same indifference from those who are supposed to lead. Our families shouldn’t have to fight alone to keep vital programs alive. Leadership should mean standing up when it matters most not ducking responsibility.
A real leader stands up for the people who don't have a voice. For our renters trying to hold onto their homes, working families buried under rising costs, kids who need better schools and safer streets, seniors who built this city but now struggle to stay in it. A mayor should make sure they’re not just seen as numbers on a spreadsheet, but as neighbors whose voices shape every decision.
A good leader doesn’t hide behind “not my jurisdiction” when tough issues show up. A good leader stands tall when the fights get tough. Whether it’s early learning centers on the chopping block, seniors losing care because of budget cuts, or developers skirting their promises. You stand up and you get people to the table, because sitting back and watching our city get hollowed out is not an option.
To me, leadership also means radical, in your face, transparency. No secret deals, no backroom handshakes. I believe in laying the facts on the table and letting people see how their money is spent, where the gaps are, and what it takes to fix them.
A mayor sets the tone for how we treat each other. This is about rebuilding trust where it’s broken and protecting it when it’s strong. You can’t fix what you won’t acknowledge, and you can’t lead what you don’t love. I love everything about this city, from its grit, to its working class spirit. Its about the people who never stop helping each other even when our leaders seem to be completely oblivious to our daily struggles.
That means putting people before politics every single time, never losing sight of the fact that the mayor’s real job is to be the voice in the room for the folks who don’t always get heard. If you’re like me, a renter in Everett, you deserve a mayor who knows what it feels like to worry about rent, who will fight for safe, affordable housing and push back on policies that price people out of their own neighborhoods.
If you’re working two jobs and still struggling to get ahead, you deserve a mayor who’s going to sit at that council table and demand that every dollar we spend serves working families first, not just big developers, special interests, or flashy projects that won't lift everyone up.
The mayor should use that seat to drive big conversations about accountability and transparency. Too often people in government shrug and say, “Not my jurisdiction” while families lose childcare, seniors lose day services, and our kids go without safe places to learn and grow. A real mayor steps up and says, “Let’s get everyone around the same table until we solve it.” That’s leadership.
The mayor’s priority should be setting the vision and the values. It’s about building bridges between communities that don’t feel represented at city hall; renters, working folks, people who feel like their voices have been drowned out. It’s about defending our city’s public dollars and making sure they serve the people who need it most.
Too often we see local governments, we see nothing getting done for the people who are waiting for action on housing, public safety, childcare, and the basics that make a city livable. The ideal relationship is one where both sides roll up their sleeves and take responsibility when things go wrong and share credit when they go right.
The mayor must be clear about the budget, every dollar, every contract, every partnership. The council should be a check on that spending, but the mayor should be proactive about keeping the public looped in. If the people paying the bills feel shut out, trust erodes fast.
This issue is personal to me. Housing is the root of everything, you can’t build strong neighborhoods, safe streets, good schools, or a thriving local economy if people can’t afford to live here. If we keep letting corporate landlords and developers write the rules, we’ll keep watching our friends and neighbors get pushed out and we’ll lose what makes Everett special.
We need to get bold, like Austin Texas, which didn’t just shrug its shoulders about affordability. They got hyper-aggressive. They changed zoning so people can build more homes near jobs and transit; they cracked down on exploitative practices by big landlords; they gave working people more power at the table. We can do that here! We need real tenant protections so folks aren’t living in fear of eviction; we need incentives and partnerships to build housing that stays affordable; and we need to fight back against anyone who tries to profit off our housing pain.
If we don’t get this right, the ripple effects will be brutal: more people falling into homelessness, more families leaving Everett because they just can’t make it here, more businesses unable to hire workers who can actually afford to live nearby. The next ten years must be about putting people before profit and fighting for the 51% of us who rent, our working class who keep this city running.
As mayor, I want to see our city step up and advocate boldly for the funding, policy changes, and new ideas we need to thrive. For example, Washington is a state that still struggles with a deeply regressive tax system that puts a bigger burden on working people than on the wealthy and corporations. That has to change. Cities like ours need more local control over revenue options, things like vacancy taxes on corporate landlords or funding mechanisms that help build housing people can actually afford.
I want to see the state listen when Everett says what works here and what doesn’t. Too often, cities are left scrambling to clean up problems created by top-down decisions that don’t fit local realities. Look at how Austin, Texas has made real strides on housing affordability by pushing for missing middle housing and removing barriers that held back new supply, that kind of policy shift needs state backing, and Everett deserves the same kind of flexibility to do what’s right for our people.
We need the state to stand with us to protect renters, remember, over 51% of Everett are renters. We need support for early learning programs, addiction services, and solutions for homelessness that actually work. We need the state to step in when big institutions close vital services without warning, like what happened with our Early Learning Center.
This city can’t just sit and wait for scraps. Everett should be a fierce advocate, demanding our fair share of funding for affordable housing, early learning, mental health, and public safety that actually builds trust and keeps people safe. We must stand up for programs that work and push back when the federal government tries to balance its budget by gutting services for working families and the most vulnerable.
We also have a moral obligation to resist any federal policy that uses fear, division, or cruelty. Whether that’s ICE raids ripping families apart, or cuts that force kids and seniors onto the street. I will stand between our community and any attack on our people’s dignity and basic rights, physically if necessary.
At the same time, we need to build real partnerships that outlast partisan swings. That means telling the truth about what works: we know early learning saves taxpayers money long-term; we know affordable housing keeps families stable; we know investing in people is how you build strong cities. We need to demand consistent, fair federal investment — not just one-time checks when things fall apart.
Because when they say “not my jurisdiction,” it’s up to us to fix the problem.
We need to shift how we think about what “public safety” means. Everett can’t arrest its way out of homelessness, addiction, or poverty. We need law enforcement focused on violent crime and safety threats, while investing in mental health professionals, social workers, and outreach teams who can handle situations a badge and a gun can’t fix.
The mayor’s office must also back officers with the training and resources they need to respond. De-escalation techniques, cultural competency, and crisis intervention save lives. This partnership means standing up for good wages and working conditions too, because burnt-out, understaffed police can’t do their jobs well.
Too often, big decisions get made in closed meetings, and ordinary working people are left to deal with the consequences. That’s how we end up with services cut for families, seniors, and our most vulnerable neighbors while shiny new projects get pushed through with little oversight.
I believe our city’s budget should be open for everyone to see, line by line; So our community can clearly track how their hard earned dollars are spent. We need to make our budget process more user friendly, holding regular public forums where residents can ask questions, challenge priorities, and offer real solutions. City contracts, vendor payments, and grant spending should be published online in an easy to search format. If you pay for it, you have a right to see it.
Being a responsible custodian of public funds means We should audit major projects regularly and be honest when something doesn’t work. Leaders must take responsibility when they mess up, not hide behind excuses or pass blame around.
I believe our city government should be the biggest helper in the room, not another barrier people have to fight through.
We can’t stop big challenges like homelessness, unsafe streets, and rising costs if we don’t spend wisely and measure what works. Real accountability means fighting waste and corruption, holding developers and big businesses to their promises, and protecting public funds from being siphoned off by political insiders.
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Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Ryan completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
