Ahead of this year’s general election on Nov. 3, The Northern Light asked candidates to submit written responses to five questions: Why are you running for this position? What experience do you bring to this position? What is the single biggest challenge facing the candidate elected to this position? What will you do to address this? What sets you apart from the other candidate?
The candidates’ responses have been edited and condensed to fit in print, but their complete responses can be found online at TheNorthernLight.com, along with responses from the judicial candidates.
U.S. House, Washington District 2
Rick Larsen
Rick Larsen (prefers Democratic party)
Larsen, who’s held the seat since 2001, said he’s running for reelection because he wants to fight to lower costs, hold the current administration accountable and protect reproductive freedom, among other actions.
He said that he brings his experience in Congress to the position and he’ll continue to work to secure funding for critical resources in northwest Washington.
Larsen said the biggest challenge for the candidate elected to this position will be the economy, and the rising prices of essentials such as groceries, healthcare, childcare and housing.
“Our economy should work for everyone, but right now, too many hard-working people are struggling to make ends meet and cannot cover basic needs,” he said.
Larsen listed his plans to address housing, groceries and gas, and healthcare and childcare. His plan to address groceries and gas, for example, is to support the repeal of tariffs, and ending the Iran war.
He said his knowledge of the district and his experience working with local families, workers, veterans, tribal communities and local leaders sets him apart from other candidates.
Edwin Feller
Edwin Feller (prefers Republican party)
Feller said he’s running because somebody needed to oppose Larsen.
After 61 years as an HVAC contractor, 15 of which were spent working overseas, he’s seen a lot of problems he could help to solve, he said. He’s worked in 60 countries.
He believes the biggest challenge facing the candidate elected to this position is to “get the undocumented immigrants under control,” he wrote. He has concerns that undocumented immigrants have a negative impact on the economy, healthcare, schools and welfare.
His plan to address this is to support an increase of ICE agents, he wrote.
“I am not a politician who worked to keep the business end working,” he wrote. “I had seen how corrupt our government has been overseas.”
Washington Senate, District 42
Erika Creydt
Erika Creydt (prefers Republican party)
Having lived in Blaine her whole life and founding TouchStone Counseling Group in the city, Creydt said she has lived experience in the community that’s been missing from the state Senate.
As a clinical psychologist specializing in youth medical health and a Blaine School Board director, Creydt said she has experience with operating a business and helping to guide a school board on a tight budget.
“Small business, healthcare and education are the issues the Senate decides, and I’ve worked in all three,” she wrote.
Creydt said affordability is the biggest challenge facing the candidate elected to this position. Homeownership is becoming unattainable for essential workers, and the cost of groceries, gas, childcare and taxes keeps climbing.
She said that specifically for border towns like Blaine, a decline in Canadian visitors has had a negative impact on small businesses.
Creydt said that if elected, she’ll oppose new taxes and regulations that increase the cost of living, work to ensure education funding finds its way to students, and improve access to healthcare.
“I’m not a career politician. I’m a psychologist, a small-business owner and a school board member who has spent her career listening to people and solving problems. I understand the issues in our district and will make sure our community has a voice in Olympia,” she wrote.
Michael Shepard
tiffanybrooks
Michael Alvarez Shepard (prefers Democratic party)
Shepard said he’s running because the cost of living is out of control, and he believes that his experience has prepared him to take the lead on a long-term plan to address this.
Alvarez has served as a commissioner for the Port of Bellingham for eight years, he said, which has given him experience working with local governments, businesses and tribes to provide economic development programs.
“I’ve also secured affordable housing, a climate action plan, renewable energy sources, and family-wage jobs. I believe this hands-on experience with the issues facing our community has prepared me for service in our Senate. In Blaine, the Port invests in the local economy by supporting our marine trades workforce in Blaine Harbor,” he wrote.
Shepard said he thinks addressing the affordability crisis will be the biggest challenge facing the candidate elected. He cited tariffs, the war in Iran, and a decline in Canadian cross-border traffic as reasons for the affordability crisis.
He plans to address this by supporting investments in economic development, and faster construction of housing.
Shepard’s elected experience for the Port of Bellingham and his time as an educator at Western Washington University have given him unique perspectives on two concerns he’s heard voters raise often — affordability and education, he said.
“I believe I have the hands-on experience with these issues to go to Olympia and credibly contribute to solutions with action,” he wrote.
Washington House, District 42, Pos. 1
Alicia Rule
Alicia Rule (prefers Democratic party)
Rule, who’s held the seat since 2021, is running for reelection because Whatcom County families deserve a government that understands their challenges and delivers practical help, she said.
“As a single mother, social worker, and small business owner, I know how hard people work to build a secure life. I want families to afford their communities, get healthcare when they need it, and feel confident their children have a future here,” Rule wrote.
Rule said her time as a state representative has given her firsthand experience with turning community concerns into legislation, and working through differences with other legislators to solve problems
Affordability is the biggest issue facing the candidate elected, she said. The costs of essentials impacts everyone from children to seniors, she wrote.
She plans to focus on reducing the costs of housing, healthcare and childcare by supporting more affordable housing and making healthcare and childcare more accessible, she said, as well as questioning whether the state’s current spending is supporting programs that deliver results.
Rule said her combination of experience is what sets her apart from her opponent.
“I listen carefully, work across the aisle, and stay focused on what a decision will mean for the people who have to live with it,” Rule wrote.
Misty Flowers
Misty Flowers (prefers Republican party)
Flowers is running because she wants to bring new leadership to Olympia that has the courage to propose common-sense legislation that works for everyone, she said. She emphasized that she wants to promote transparency in the budget, and that she’ll represent accountability in government if elected.
Flowers said that if elected, she’ll bring her experience advocating for minorities, managing organization funds and functions, and leadership skills to the seat.
The biggest challenge for the candidate elected “is to communicate between constituents and legislators to create policies that benefit the most people,” she wrote.
“I will address this challenge by staying engaged with 42nd Legislative District voters, bringing their concerns to Olympia, finding allies in the voting body and listen to concerns by those voting against policies that are being proposed for the people,” Flowers wrote.
“I will research policies that are working, I will challenge policies that aren't working (financially or in results) and work for a better balance in our state budget,” she continued.
Flowers said that her experience "challenging blanket government policies that harm minorities” sets her apart from her opponent. She believes that lawmakers need to consider the long-term consequences of the policies before they enact them.
Washington House, District 42, Pos. 2
Joe Timmons
tiffanybrooks
Joe Timmons (prefers Democratic party)
Timmons, who has held the seat since 2022, is running for reelection because he and his family feel the impact of rising costs just like others in Whatcom County, he said. He’d like to build upon his work on projects such as the Slater Road elevation project and continue supporting efforts to expand housing opportunities, health and substance use treatment facilities, and education.
“I bring two terms of legislative experience and 15 years of public service working at the local, state, and federal levels of government,” he wrote.
Timmons said he previously worked as a preschool teacher, as an assistant director in Western Washington University’s government relations office, and as former-Gov. Jay Inslee’s Northwest Washington regional representative.
Making everyday life more affordable will be the biggest challenge for the candidate elected, he said. As the cost of essentials such as housing, healthcare and childcare rises, families have less money for expenses like groceries and transportation. This leaves little room for families to save for the future.
To address this, Timmons wrote, “I’ll keep working to expand housing options, create more opportunities for first-time homeownership, and make childcare and healthcare more affordable.”
“I bring a record of delivering for Whatcom County and a willingness to make independent decisions. My job as a legislator is to listen to residents throughout the district and work with anyone who is serious about solving the challenges we all face,” Timmons wrote.
Justin Pike
Justin Pike (prefers Republican party)
Pike is running because he’d like future generations to have the same opportunities his family had to build a life in Whatcom County, he said. He believes Olympia needs leaders who understand the consequences of the decisions made by governments, and “are willing to challenge a system that isn’t delivering results.”
Pike said that he spent about 24 years in the military, worked in law enforcement, and is also a small business owner.
“These experiences have shown me to listen, work across differences, solve problems, and take responsibility for the results,” he wrote.
He believes the biggest challenge facing the candidate elected to this position will be restoring economic opportunity for working families. Rising costs have made it difficult for people to get ahead, he said, and government spending should reflect the peoples’ priorities.
To address this, Pike said he’ll work to increase professional opportunities for young people, as well as pursue Business and Occupation Tax reform to support small businesses.
“I understand that policies that look good on paper don’t always work in practice. I won’t measure success by the number of bills passed or dollars spent, but by whether people’s lives actually improve. I’ll bring that practical perspective to Olympia and work with anyone, regardless of political party, who is serious about delivering results for Whatcom County,” he wrote.
Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney
Jesse Corkern
tiffanybrooks
Jesse Corkern (prefers Democratic party)
Jesse Corkern said he is running to bring new leadership and change to the Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
He brings 20 years of experience practicing law, including spending the last eight years in the Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office, where he has worked in both the criminal and civil divisions, giving him a thorough understanding of how the office operates.
He said the biggest challenge will be restoring the prosecutor’s office which has been impacted by low morale, high turnover, indecisive leadership and inefficient processes.
“Our attorneys feel overburdened and undersupported, and many have left over the last few years because of these issues,” he wrote. “I’m excited about the opportunity to provide the leadership that this office desperately needs, and I’m honored that my colleagues have asked me to be their leader.”
To combat these challenges, Corkern said he plans to streamline prosecution processes, introduce greater specialization to manage caseloads and provide hands-on mentorship to less experienced attorneys.
“As the only candidate who has actually worked in this office, I know I have the right experience, skill set and perspective to bring the positive change this important office needs,” he wrote.
Ryan Swinburnson (no party preference)
Ryan Swinburnson brings experience as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney and civil attorney, and has practiced law for 27 years. He said that as a fifth generation Whatcom County resident, he is running to improve county safety.
“Initially, the single biggest challenge is a lack of accountability for violent offenders and drug dealers, and we are not adequately addressing our addiction and mental health crises,” Swinburnson wrote. “We need to get back on track so all of Whatcom County is safer for every community member.”
Swinburnson said he believes the biggest challenges facing the newly elected prosecutor are attrition and office culture, and said, if elected, he plans to give clear leadership and clarify staff responsibilities.
“The leadership team, including me, needs to be in the trenches with the attorneys to provide guidance and impart a shared vision,” he wrote. “For staff, there needs to be clarity of responsibilities.”
He said he believes both his prior and current leadership experience as well as bipartisan support and endorsements from local law enforcement set him apart as a candidate.
Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 4
Paul Burrill
Paul Burrill
Burrill said he’s running because, after more than a decade of serving on advisory committees, he wants to bring his knowledge and relationships to the port commission. Protecting the port’s working waterfront and expanding aviation opportunities are among his priorities.
Burrill has served as the chairman of the port’s Marina Advisory Committee since 2018, he said, and he’s a founding member of the Whatcom County Business and Commerce Committee. He’s also worked in the commercial fishing industry for about 30 years, including experience in Blaine.
Turning the port’s assets into economic opportunities that working families can be a part of will be the biggest challenge facing the candidate elected, he said. This means supporting employers and family-wage jobs while addressing workforce housing and preserving industrial land.
“I will use the relationships built through years of committee work to bring employers, workers, local governments and community members together. I will advocate for protecting industrial property, investing in essential infrastructure and pursuing practical workforce housing partnerships,” Burrill wrote.
He’d also like to attract businesses that complement the area’s maritime, agriculture and aviation industries.
“My record of service began long before I decided to seek elected office. For more than a decade, I have shown up, listened and worked through issues affecting our port and local economy…” he wrote.
Tor Benson
Tor Benson
Benson said he‘s running because he enjoys serving his community. Burrill has worked as an owner and operator of commercial fishing boats in Alaska, a financial adviser and a shipping coordinator.
He also serves as the treasurer of the Bellingham Bay Rotary Club, he said.
“This position is where my skillset can be best put to use and my varied background will allow me to be an effective commissioner to improve the direction of the port,” Benson wrote.
Benson said that the Bellingham Airport is the biggest challenge facing the candidate elected. He noted that the airport is struggling financially and is continuing to lose routes.
He said the port could improve its reach by sending a representative to conferences and making the case that the Bellingham Airport could expand to offer more airlines and routes.
“The airport will close for a month in July 2027 for runway upgrades and when it reopens I would like to see two new routes come online to hubs such as Oakland, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, or Houston,” Benson wrote.
As for what sets him apart from his opponent, Benson wrote, “I founded Streamline Advisory, a local small business, to help individuals and businesses make informed financial decisions and will assist the Port in doing the same.”
Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5
Chris Elder
Diana Bartos
Chris Elder
Elder said he’s running because he wants to represent the communities in east Whatcom County, and ensure that its residents are prioritized in the port’s planning and operations.
“The Port holds economic development planning authority for all of Whatcom County and I hope to identify investments for rural communities, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, recreation, tourism, tribal communities and address other east county needs,” Elder wrote.
Elder worked for the county’s Planning and Development Services, and Public Works for 11 years, he said. He also helped found the Twin Sisters Farmers Market.
The biggest challenge for the candidate elected will be ensuring county residents economic certainty and resilience during unpredictable times, Elder said. He cited rising costs, tariffs, the federal government and climate change as reasons for uncertainty.
To address this, Elder said he plans to work with stakeholders and partners to identify investments that can build a resilient economy.
“I want to see investments in our local food systems and forestry industries. I want to see housing focused on working class needs and including pathways to homeownership. I want to see us prioritize natural resource stewardship and technological innovation,” he wrote.
Elder said his experience in climate and flood resilience, agriculture and food systems, and his commitment to his community will serve the community well if elected.
“I hope to use my connections and relationships with small cities, rural property owners, farmers, foresters, and the tribes to ensure that we’re working together towards a shared future,” he wrote.
AshRene Photography
Shawn Ensley
Ensley is running because Whatcom County is his home, and he cares about its future, he said. He wants to ensure that the port stays focused on promoting economic development and partnering with businesses that bring living-wage jobs to east Whatcom County.
Ensley said that for 21 years he served in the Air Force Reserve in logistics and airport operations while building his career at BP’s Cherry Point refinery.
Keeping the port focused on its core responsibilities while managing rising costs and aging infrastructure will be the biggest challenge for the candidate elected, he said.
“The port oversees critical assets — the airport, working waterfront, marinas, and industrial properties — and many of those facilities need major reinvestment at a time when construction costs, regulatory requirements, and environmental obligations are all increasing,” Ensley wrote.
To address this, Ensley wrote he plans to “focus on clear priorities, disciplined planning and strong oversight.” His background in logistics and industrial operations has taught him how to manage complex systems, schedules and budgets.
He emphasized that he’d promote transparency with the public regarding the port’s spending.
Ensley comes from the private sector, not from government, he said, which gives him an advantage if elected to the port commission.
“I don’t have connections inside government or preconceived ideas shaped by working in public agencies. I bring a fresh perspective — one grounded in military logistics, industrial operations, and real‑world problem‑solving — without the assumptions that can come from spending a career in government,” he wrote.
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