Aaron Reardon


Aaron Reardon is an American politician and former county executive of Snohomish County in Washington state. First elected to the post in 2003, Reardon was sworn in as the youngest serving county executive in America. On February 21, 2013, Reardon announced his resignation effective May 31, 2013. Throughout his career in public office, he was a member of the Democratic Party.
Prior to serving as Snohomish County Executive, Reardon served as a Washington State Senator and a member of the state House of Representatives. He holds a double degree in political science and social science with a focus in public administration and economics from Central Washington University. Reardon and his wife Kate live in Everett, Washington with their two children. Reardon attended Mariner High School in Everett and lettered in football and swimming. His interest in competitive swimming led him to attend Central Washington University, but his swim career ended two months after his arrival–he took a political science course during his first semester and was captivated. He graduated from Central with dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Social-Science Public Administration. While at the university, he volunteered on multiple statewide and local Democratic campaigns. His experience running campaigns landed him a paid post-graduate position with the Downtown Seattle Association where he lobbied on behalf of Seattle businesses.

Career

In 1998, aged 27, Reardon sought election to the Washington State House of Representatives, District 38, Position 1. Reardon won a three-way Democratic Primary to advance to the November General election. Reardon won the general election with more than 55% of the vote.
Reardon was easily re-elected in 2000 and vacated the seat in 2002 to pursue a Washington State Senate position.
In 2002, Reardon won election to the 38th Legislative District Senate seat, garnering 65 percent of the vote.
In 2003, Reardon won a three-way Democratic Primary election for the Snohomish County executive position. In the Primary Election, Reardon defeated former Democratic state senator Kevin Quigley. The Primary Campaign was marred by accusations of dirty politics from both Reardon and Quigley. Reardon won the November general election garnering 52 percent of the countywide vote. Reardon positioned himself as a centrist Democrat, campaigning on a platform that called for decreasing taxes while implementing a long-term strategic growth plan specific to Snohomish County.
In 2007, Reardon retained his seat as County Executive defeating Republican Jack Turk. Reardon received 65 percent of the popular vote. In 2011, Reardon won a third—and due to term limits, final—term as County Executive, dispatching Republican Mike Hope, a Seattle police officer and a sitting member of the Washington State Legislature. In August 2012, a Skagit County judge dismissed a petition by a local blogger to recall Reardon because it had not been signed under oath.
On February 21, 2013, Reardon announced his resignation as County Executive effective May 31, 2013. Reardon cited the ongoing financial toll on him and his family, regarding legal costs to continue to successfully defend against political allegations of improper use of county resources in his re-election campaign and an extra-marital affair.