President’s Day Message
Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive
Happy President’s Day!
This is one of my favorite national holidays, coming as it does as we turn the corner from winter into spring. Celebrating our nation’s Presidents also reminds me of why I got into public service, and I suspect why many of you also choose to give time and energy to the people of Snohomish County.
We are generally not here for complex reasons, but to make our communities stronger, fairer, and more prosperous. (Of course, most of us also need a paycheck.) Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” President Roosevelt’s words describe those of us who have chosen to work locally for the betterment of our world.
We celebrate this holiday, not because presidents are better than the average person, but because we can learn from those who have faced very hard work and painfully tough decisions. Our leaders’ successes and failures can guide us. Whether we are working for all of the people of the United States or for those living right here in Snohomish County, we shouldn’t lose sight of what it is we need to do.
President Obama once said, “Alongside our famous individualism, there’s another ingredient in the American saga, a belief that we’re all connected as one people.” He continued, “It is that fundamental belief: I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family. E pluribus unum: ‘Out of many, one.’”
As we live our lives, pursue our dreams, and work for the people of our community, we shouldn’t lose sight of what brought us here and what is possible if we work together with singular purpose.
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