User:Khul10/Aaron Reardon

Aaron Reardon (November 25, 1970) is an American politician in the state of Washington where he currently serves as Snohomish County Executive, an office he has held since November 2003. At the time of his election, Reardon became the youngest County Executive in the United States at 32 years of age. He previously served in the state legislature as a member of both the House and Senate. Reardon is a Democrat.

Early Life and Education

Aaron George Reardon, the son of Dean S tewart Kambarn and Pamela Marie Horst, was born at the now defunct Northwestern Hospital of Seattle on November 25, 1970. Reardon was raised by his mother in the Snohomish County area, first in Mountlake Terrace, and then in Everett, where he spent the majority of his adolescence.

Reardon's father was rarely present, and when he was, the father was violent and displayed alcoholic tendencies. Reardon's mother suffered numerous injuries during Kambarn's violent episodes. After one episode witnessed by the then 3-year-old Reardon, Horst searched out all of the bullets in the residence and buried them in the backyard, fearing that Kambarn would follow through on a threat to murder the entire family when he returned. After this incident, Reardon was raised by his mother alone in a series of Everett-area trailer parks.

However, Horst was a concientous and dedicated mother, and from a young age, she instilled a belief in her son that he could achieve whatever he set his mind to. Even as a young boy, Reardon recalls watching State of the Union addresses with his mother, or discussions surrounding social issues of the day.

It was one such discussion that prompted 10-year-old Reardon to embark on his political career. After discussing President Ronald Reagan's attempt to classify ketchup as a vegetable, a classification which would allow schools to substitute ketchup for vegetables as part of hot lunch programs, Reardon wrote a letter to then Congressman Al Swift, who exchanged letters with Reardon until the widely-ridiculed program was dropped. Reardon said that this exchange, and the respect with which Swift treated the young boy, was the seed that sporouted his political career.

At age 11, Reardon was adopted by his stepfather, Timoty James Reardon, and the young boy decided to foresake his birth name in favor of the name of his step father.

Reardon is a graduate of Mariner High School, where he played football and was a four-year letterwinner on the swim team, excelling in the backstroke and IM.

After graduation, Reardon attended Central Washington University, where at age 18, he met his future wife Kate. Reardon earned a doub le degree in political science and social science with a focus in public administration and economics. Reardon was also inducted into the Phi Sigma Alhpa honors society based on his academic success.

Political Career

Reardon earned election as the President of the Washington State College Democrats, which led way to a position as the Washington State College Chair of the 1992 Bill Clinton for President campaign. In 1993, Reardon served as a State Senate intern for then-Senator Sylvia Strattach of Kent. After the internship, Reardon spent five years working as an Economic Development Consultant in the Seattle area.

State Legislature

In 1998 Reardon ran for and won election to the House of Representatives in the 38th Legislative District of Washington State. Reardon, 27 at the time, defeated 49-year-old Democrat Doris McCarthy and 60-year-old Republican Erv Hoglund. On a questionaire for the Seattle Times, Reardon's political history was listed as "none", but he earned endorsements from the Washington State Troopers Association, Washington State Labor Council, Retired Firefighters of Washington State, Washington Health Care Association, Snohomish County Democrats.

At the time, Reardon stated that if he could only pass one bill, it would be a comprehensive workforce training bill that would enable workers to develop skills and receive training. This statement foreshadowed the political strategy Reardon would display in later years. Reardon was also one of the only candidates listed in the exhaustive Seattle Times voter guide that listed a campaign website: www.geocities.com/reardon4wa. Reardon went on to serve five years in the House of Representatives, earning re-election in 2000.

In 2002, Reardon ran for the open 38th Legislative District Senate seat. He was opposed by Republican Glenn Coggeshell of Everett. Reardon appealed to the middle of the electorate, his voter pamphlet statement appealed to "the forgotten middle class" and called for increased worker training, an emphasis on "middle class" job opportunities. He pledged fiscal responsibility and labeled common sense and balance as the keys to keeping governement on track.

On Election Night 2002, Reardon won an overwhelming victory and claimed the Senate seat, defeating his opponent by a 31-point margin - earning nearly twice as many votes as his opponent.

Snohomish County Executive

In 2003, Reardon won election to the Snohomish County Executive position vacated by Bob Drewell, defeating Democrat Kevin Quigley in the Primary and Republican Dave Earling in the General Election. Upon his election in November 2003, Reardon was the youngest Executive in the Country at just 32 years of age.

After prevailing in the primary, Reardon faced off against the veteran Republican Edmonds City Council President Dave Earling, in a pitched battle that featured two candidates appealing to the broad middle of the political spectrum.

Reardon emphasized the need for streamlined goals, and said that if elected, his first priority would be to write a business plan that would identify strategies to attract new companies while retaining key family wage jobs. Reardon also talked about stripping down the county budget process and requiring departments to justify their levels of funding.

Earling questioned Reardon's level of experience while at the same time trumpeting an increased investment in biotech industries.

While campaigning, Reardon defied stereotypes by appealing to and garnering the support of influential lobbies at either end of the political spectrum. He recieved the endorsement of the left leaning groups including the Sierra Cub, and the Snohomish County Labor Council.

At the other end of the spectrum, Reardon recieved the support of he political arm of the Master Builder's Association of Washington, a development-based lobby that typically backed Republican oppponents - including two Republicans recently elected to the Snohomish County Council.

County Executive

Reardon is the third County Executive in the history of Snohomish County. He has served two four year terms, the second of which ends January 2012.

First Term

Upon election,

External links

• example.com