Nate Nehring

Snohomish County Councilmember

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

This afternoon, the County Council voted to approve two of my addiction recovery proposals. I really appreciated getting to hear testimony from individuals who have (or had family members who have) struggled with drug addiction that were willing to share their personal stories on the importance of accountability when it comes to recovery.

The first ordinance (approved 5-0) criminalizes the exposure of children to fentanyl and other deadly drugs.

The second ordinance (approved 3-2) codifies a policy whereby county government cannot incentivize no-barrier, housing-first programs in funding allocations, but must accept and give equal consideration to applications from all across the recovery spectrum, including clean & sober housing which focuses on accountability.

There is lots more work to be done on the issues of drug addiction, mental health disorders, and homelessness, but this is a positive step in the right direction for Snohomish County.

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Please join us on July 9th for a beach cleanup at Meadowdale Beach Park! Families are encouraged to attend and participate - refreshments & supplies will be provided. Hope to see you there! 🏖

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

How does a local law get passed? Learn more in this week’s video 📝

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

https://t.co/E4zb8XG7jn.

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

@DicksDriveIns is coming to Tulalip! 😋

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

The World Cup begins next week! Check out this video to learn more about World Cup-related events happening here in Snohomish County. ⚽️

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Congratulations @Jon_Nehring on being recognized with the “Joel Pritchard Award” at this year’s Cascade Conference. Well deserved!

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Last night we hosted the 3rd annual Building Bridges Summit and it was a great event! Thank you to everyone who came out to show your support, including the speakers and event sponsors.

There has never been a more important time to focus on civility and building bridges across political divides.

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Looking for fun parks to take the kids to this summer? Check out these 5 must-visit parks in Snohomish County! ☀️

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Remember and honor our fallen heroes 🇺🇸

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

We cut the ribbon on the brand new pickleball courts at Haller Middle School! I’m glad to have been able to partner with the @ArlingtonWA and Arlington School District on getting this project funded and completed. Can’t wait to get out and play some pickleball this summer! 🏓

[Governor JB Pritzker @GovPritzker]

Horrified by the attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego today.

The pattern of violence against our religious communities is beyond unacceptable — it must never be normalized.

May the memories of the victims be a blessing and let us come together to pray for those affected.

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

@manni79223 @FlyPaineField Yes, I know there are many others who do as well. I will share that feedback! Thanks.

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Have you flown out of Paine Field? Learn more about what’s in store at Snohomish County’s airport ✈️

@FlyPaineField

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Kennedy and I got to meet with MP Erna Solberg, who served as the Prime Minister of Norway from 2013-2021. 🇳🇴

It was fun to kickoff the Syttende Mai festivities at the Normanna Lodge in Everett. The former Prime Minister shared some great thoughts on the importance of the partnership between the U.S. and Norway. After our U.S. Constitution, Norway has one of the oldest Constitutions in the world, adopted on May 17, 1814.

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

It was great to join current and former county staff at the ribbon cutting for Mother Nature’s Window park in Marysville. What a beautiful area and a great example of what can happen when local, state, and federal partners work together. Kudos to @WA_Marysville on this great project!

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

Space modules are being built right here in Snohomish County! Learn more about this and other innovations happening at the Cascade Industrial Center💡

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

I’m proud to fly the American flag 🇺🇸

[Lynnwood Times @LynnwoodTimes]

📝LT COMMENTARY: Lynnwood City Councilwoman Isabel Mata Launches Scathing Attack on the American Flag Just Weeks Before Memorial Day and During America’s 250th Anniversary Year

In a stunning display of contempt for our nation’s most sacred symbol, Lynnwood City Councilwoman Isabel Mata used the May 4, 2026, City Council meeting to disparage the United States flag, declare it unrelatable to her, and suggest that the 27 American flags flying year-round at Wilcox Park (Lynnwood’s US Flag Park) should be replaced because they represent “parts of American history that, frankly, are not great.”

Mata, who admitted during her remarks that she was not even born in the United States, stated plainly: “To me, a pride flag is way more relatable than an American flag. I would not raise an American flag at my house because I wouldn’t… I wasn’t even born here. But I would raise a pride flag.”

She went on to argue that Lynnwood — “the most diverse city in all of Snohomish County” — should consider flying “27 other flags” instead of the current display honoring America’s history, questioning whether those flags still represent the community’s “values” today.

Her comments come at an especially tone-deaf moment: exactly three weeks before Memorial Day (May 25, 2026) and in the same year the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial — the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Millions of Americans will soon honor the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who gave their lives under that flag, the presidents assassinated while defending the Republic (Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Kennedy), and the thousands of civilians murdered in terrorist attacks simply for being American — from 9/11 to the Pulse nightclub (a gay bar in Orlando, Florida) and beyond.

The Stars and Stripes represents freedom, self-government, individual liberty, and the blood-soaked sacrifices that made the United States the greatest nation on earth. To attack it so openly, especially from the dais of an elected official, is not just radical — it is profoundly un-American.
Councilwoman Mata also claimed the city has already taken a political stand because “our city logo is literally all are welcome in rainbow colors.” This is factually incorrect.

The official City of Lynnwood logo is a standard municipal design featuring a stylized blue “L” with concentric squares — not rendered in Pride/rainbow colors.

While the city has promoted a separate “All Are Welcome” decal and initiative in past years, that is distinct from the official municipal logo adopted years ago. Mata’s assertion misrepresents city branding to justify her position.

🟦 Radical Position for an Elected Official — and Potential Oath Concerns

Disparaging the American flag and the history it represents is an extreme stance even for a private citizen. For a sitting member of a city council — who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Washington — it raises serious questions.

While the First Amendment protects speech, many residents will rightly view this as a violation of the spirit of her oath of office and a betrayal of the public trust. It sends a clear message that she cannot relate to the very nation and flag under which she serves.

In the eyes of countless veterans, first responders, and patriotic Lynnwood families, such remarks come across as deeply un-American.

This is not Mata’s first controversial stand against federal authority.

Earlier this year, just weeks into her four-year term, she aggressively pushed a resolution directing Lynnwood Police to arrest or intervene against federal law enforcement agents, including ICE, during operations within city limits. The proposal drew sharp criticism from Police Chief Cole Langdon over legal liabilities and potential violations of federal law. After pushback, Mata amended the measure, but the intent was clear: prioritize local resistance to federal immigration enforcement over cooperation with national law enforcement.

Lynnwood residents — many of whom have family who served under the American flag, many of whom are proud naturalized citizens who do relate to what Old Glory stands for — deserve elected leaders who respect the symbols of the country that gives them the privilege to serve. Councilwoman Mata’s remarks suggest she does not.

We at the Lynnwood Times stand unequivocally with the American flag, the men and women who died for it, and the principles it represents — especially as we approach Memorial Day and our nation’s 250th birthday.

Lynnwood will be holding its next business meeting at 6 p.m., May 11, 2026. I am encouraging all residents to show up to the City Council and let the council know you love America and support the U.S. Flag!

🟦 CM ISABEL MATA STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY:

“To me, a pride flag is way more relatable than an American flag. I would not raise an American flag at my house because I wouldn't…I wasn't even born here. But I would raise a pride flag. And as the most diverse city in all of Snohomish County, I don't think that I'm the only one who...who would maybe choose to have 27 other flags in Flag Park.

“Does this park represent the values that were here in this 1960s when they established this park?

“Do we hold those same values now, and are they representative of the Linwood as we see it today?

“Because if we're having this issue of we have so many things that we want to represent, this community is filled with so many beautiful cultures and diverse backgrounds and all of these things, yet we have 27 iterations of the same flag, some representing parts of American history that, frankly, are not great.

“Is there something different that we could do that fixes this issue altogether where maybe these aren't flags that could be up year-round that represent our community.

“The last thing I want to say is yes it's a political statement but our city logo is literally all are welcome in rainbow colors. So, we've like we've already made a decision as a city where we stand politically. I think that's very, very, clear so to me that is something I would feel so comfortable doing is raising that [pride] flag in Wilcox Park and raising so many other flags that represent who we are.

“So, wrap it all together. Maybe this is bigger than just seasonally raising these flags based on these proclamations. Maybe it's a time that we look at that park and ‘those’ flags all together and find a long-term solution that is more representative of the people of Lynnwood.”

📝 Mario Lotmore, Publisher of the Lynnwood Times

@HarmeetKDhillon @DHSgov @BreitbartNews @BrandiKruse @thehoffather @choeshow @bennyjohnson @StephenM

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

This morning, I introduced a suite of legislation that aims to address drug addiction, expand access to treatment, and prioritize recovery-oriented outcomes in Snohomish County.

Proposal #1 – Levels the playing field for housing programs which prioritize accountability instead of incentivizing “housing first” programs through county funding

Proposal #2 – Expands capacity for treatment, recovery, and stabilization services by raising the minimum threshold of Affordable Housing and Behavioral Health dollars toward this purpose from 12% to 20%

Proposal #3 – Prohibits the county from using taxpayer dollars to purchase and distribute drug paraphernalia

Proposal #4 – Makes it a crime to expose children to fentanyl and other deadly drugs

[Nate Nehring @NateNehring]

You’re invited! ☀️