Karen Sullivan

Taxes / Budget Karen will work to establish a comprehensive, multi-year financial plan for Mason County that accounts for infrastructure needs, pension obligations, equipment replacement, and anticipated changes in revenue. Just as she helps her clients plan for retirement and major life events, she will bring that same forward-looking discipline to county finances. Healthcare Mental health and substance use are top community health priorities, and the county must lead the response. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Karen supports a comprehensive, coordinated approach to the fentanyl crisis that combines law enforcement with treatment, prevention, and community support. She will work to strengthen partnerships between the county, tribal nations, healthcare providers, and community organizations to address the root causes of addiction while protecting public safety. Environment / Energy Karen will work to prioritize actions that reduce human contributions to Hood Canal's dissolved oxygen crisis. This includes addressing failing septic systems, improving stormwater management, and partnering with state agencies, tribal nations, and regional organizations working on Hood Canal restoration. She supports science-based solutions that target the most impactful sources of pollution. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Karen supports filling all 17 authorized MACECOM positions and exploring ways to make dispatch careers more attractive and sustainable. The 911 sales tax approved by 68% of Mason County voters demonstrates the community's commitment to emergency services, and Karen will work to ensure those funds are used effectively to strengthen dispatch operations. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen will work to ensure Mason County aggressively pursues every available state and federal infrastructure grant. From USDA Rural Development programs to state broadband funding to federal transportation and water quality grants, there are significant resources available for communities that prepare strong applications and demonstrate clear need. Taxes / Budget She supports growing the local tax base through economic development, pursuing grant funding aggressively, and exploring innovative approaches to generate sustainable revenue without overburdening residents. Housing Karen will work to ensure full implementation of the county's 2025-2030 Homeless Housing Plan, including effective use of the 1.1 million in annual housing and homelessness funding. She supports a data-driven approach that tracks outcomes and adjusts strategies based on what is actually working for Mason County families. Environment / Energy Karen supports continued aggressive pursuit of salmon recovery funding and implementation of projects that restore habitat, remove fish passage barriers, and improve water quality. The 8.2 million in grants already secured demonstrates what is possible, and Karen will work to ensure Mason County remains a leader in salmon recovery efforts. Housing Karen supports policies that encourage diverse housing options, including accessory dwelling units, workforce housing near employment centers, and mixed-use development in appropriate areas. Not every family needs a single-family home on a large lot, and the county's land use policies should reflect the full range of housing needs. Environment / Energy Karen will work to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing the county's 26,000 onsite septic systems, including financial assistance programs for homeowners who need to repair or replace failing systems, expanded sewer service in high-priority areas, and improved monitoring and enforcement. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen supports concentrating new development in urban growth areas like Belfair where infrastructure already exists or is planned, rather than allowing scattered development in rural areas that strains services and degrades community character. Economy She supports making it easier, not harder, for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in Mason County. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen supports aligning infrastructure investment with the county's comprehensive plan to ensure new development is supported by adequate roads, broadband, water, and sewer capacity. This prevents the costly pattern of development outpacing infrastructure that creates problems for both new and existing residents. Economy Karen will work to streamline county permitting processes, reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, and partner with the Mason County EDC to support small business development. Economy Karen will work to ensure broadband expansion, road improvements, and utility development support economic growth, not just current needs. She supports strategic infrastructure investment that opens new areas for business development and makes Mason County competitive with neighboring communities. Economy Karen supports growth policies that protect sensitive environmental areas including Hood Canal shorelines, salmon habitat, wetlands, and working forests. Smart growth management means saying yes to development in the right places and protecting the natural resources that define Mason County's character and support its economy. Housing Karen will work to maximize Mason County's access to state and federal housing programs, grants, and tax credits that can support affordable housing development. She will advocate for rural communities like ours to receive their fair share of housing resources from Olympia and Washington, D.C. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Karen will work to aggressively pursue grant funding and state resources to supplement local public safety budgets. With Washington ranking last nationally in officers per capita for 13 years, there is a strong case for state-level investment in rural law enforcement, and Mason County should be at the front of the line for available resources. Environment / Energy Karen will work to ensure Mason County has a strong voice in state-level decisions about DNR trust land management. She supports sustainable forestry practices that maintain revenue for local services while protecting ecological values, and she will advocate for the county to be fairly compensated if state policy changes reduce timber harvests. Environment / Energy Karen recognizes that tribal nations are essential partners in environmental stewardship. She will work to strengthen government-to-government relationships with tribal nations on issues from salmon recovery to water quality to forest management, leveraging shared goals and traditional ecological knowledge to achieve better outcomes for the entire community. Economy Karen recognizes the vital economic role of the Squaxin Island Tribe and other tribal nations in Mason County. With over 1,100 employees, the Squaxin Island Tribe is the county's largest private employer. Karen will work to strengthen government-to-government relationships and explore partnership opportunities that benefit the entire community. Taxes / Budget Karen will work to advocate in Olympia for fair treatment of rural counties. When the state imposes unfunded mandates that strain local budgets, Mason County needs a strong voice pushing back and demanding adequate state support. The 911 sales tax — approved by 68% of voters — shows that Mason County residents will support targeted funding when they understand the need and trust the process. Healthcare Karen will work to support Mason PUD 3's continued fiber expansion, advocate for state and federal broadband funding for rural areas, and explore innovative approaches like the Cloquallum Fiberhood model to bring connectivity to the nearly 4,000 households still waiting. Universal broadband access is essential for economic opportunity, education, and healthcare in the modern era. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Karen will work to support volunteer fire departments, community emergency response teams, and neighborhood watch programs that extend the reach of professional first responders. In a county as large and diverse as Mason, community-based solutions are essential complements to professional law enforcement and emergency services. Healthcare As a commissioner, Karen will prioritize adequate funding and staffing for Mason County Public Health and Human Services. Preventive care, health education, and community health programs are cost-effective investments that improve outcomes and reduce the burden on emergency services. Economy Karen supports expanding partnerships between the county, educational institutions, tribal programs, and employers to create pathways to family-wage careers. She will work to support apprenticeship programs, vocational training, and continuing education that align with the skills employers actually need. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen will work to ensure that growth planning decisions reflect the input and values of Mason County residents. She supports strengthening the Planning Advisory Commission, improving public notice and participation in development decisions, and creating more opportunities for residents to shape the future of their communities. The commission is actively seeking new members, and Karen encourages engaged residents to serve. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Karen will work to ensure the county budget reflects the critical importance of adequate law enforcement staffing. She supports exploring competitive compensation packages, signing incentives, and partnerships with law enforcement training programs to attract and retain qualified deputies to serve Mason County. Healthcare Karen will work with hospital districts and community health organizations to develop strategies for attracting and retaining healthcare professionals in Mason County. This includes supporting loan repayment programs, housing assistance, and other incentives that make rural practice viable and rewarding. Economy Karen will work to address the childcare shortage as a top economic development priority. She supports exploring public- private partnerships, incentives for childcare providers, and streamlined regulations that make it easier to open and operate childcare facilities while maintaining quality and safety standards. Healthcare Karen will advocate at the state and federal level to protect Critical Access Hospital designations, Rural Health Clinic programs, and Medicaid funding that Mason County's healthcare system depends on. She will work to ensure our local hospitals and clinics remain financially sustainable and able to serve the community. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen will work to explore programs that help homeowners maintain, repair, or replace failing septic systems, including financial assistance for low-income families. Taxes / Budget She will work to establish clear performance metrics and regular reporting so that residents can see how their tax dollars are being used and what outcomes are being achieved. Taxes / Budget Karen will work to make the county budget more transparent and accessible to residents. Taxpayers should be able to easily understand where their money goes, how spending compares to previous years, and what results are being achieved. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen supports impact fees, transportation mitigation fees, and other tools that ensure new development contributes its fair share to the infrastructure and services it requires. Existing residents should not bear the full cost of accommodating growth. Taxes / Budget Karen will work to reduce the county's dependence on any single revenue source, including timber revenue that may decline due to state policy changes. Healthcare Telehealth can bridge the gap for residents in remote areas, but only if broadband connectivity is available. Karen will champion broadband expansion — a priority that connects directly to her infrastructure agenda — to enable telehealth services that bring care closer to home for residents who currently face long drives for routine appointments. Taxes / Budget Karen supports regular review of county operations to identify waste, improve efficiency, and ensure that every department is delivering value for taxpayers. Housing Karen will work to review the county's permitting processes to identify unnecessary delays and costs that discourage housing construction. She supports sensible regulatory reform that makes it easier to build while maintaining appropriate protections for the environment and neighborhood character. Housing Karen will work to align housing policy with infrastructure planning so that new development is directed toward areas with adequate water, sewer, broadband, and transportation capacity. This approach prevents sprawl, reduces costs, and ensures that new housing strengthens rather than strains existing communities. Infrastructure / Transportation She supports expanding sewer infrastructure in growth areas where it makes environmental and economic sense, building on the successful Belfair model while protecting the county's waterways and groundwater. Healthcare Karen supports expanding county-funded behavioral health services, strengthening partnerships with tribal nations and community organizations, and pursuing state and federal grants for crisis intervention, treatment, and prevention programs. Infrastructure / Transportation Karen supports a data-driven approach to road and bridge maintenance that prioritizes safety-critical repairs and maximizes the value of every transportation dollar. She will work to pursue state and federal transportation grants and ensure that the county's road maintenance program addresses the needs of rural and underserved communities that depend on county roads.