New faces on local boards

There will be a slew of new faces on local boards come this January as newly elected commissioners get sworn in because of the November 4 general election. Whatcom County is also in for some big changes.

While a total precinct count is yet unavailable, the highest vote total in local races was 264 compared to 1,106 in last year’s presidential election. While ballots are still coming in, a total of 61,011 ballots have been received by the Whatcom County election office for a to-date voter turnout of 36.1 percent. This compares to a state turnout of 25.5%; the highest county turnout statewide was Garfield County with 51.5% and the lowest was Adams County with 15.1%.

The Whatcom County Auditor’s Office estimated 11,700 ballots were still left to count.

County voters approved expanding the Port of Bellingham commission from three to five members with the pro-expansion vote coming in at 64.9%. The commission race for District 2 was also heated, with business owner Carly James narrowly ahead of incumbent Ken Bell.

Voters took a divided look at 12 measures that were part of a decennial review of the county code from the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission with some passing while others didn’t.

Below is the November 5 ballot count, the latest election results as of press time. For updated results ahead of the November 25 election certification, visit bit.ly/3LKIQa1.

Port of Bellingham expansion

The Port of Bellingham’s commission will make room for two new seats at the table as voters were largely in support of Proposition 2025-04, which will expand the commission from three to five members and create new commission districts. Voters overwhelming surpassed the 51 percent simple majority threshold with a 64.9 percent approval, turning the tide from the last time the measure went before voters in 2012.

Proponents of the port expansion have said it will improve communication among commissioners as it allows two members to discuss port business outside of meetings, something state law doesn’t allow with only three commissioners.

Port staff have said they would draw five districts by January and races for the two new seats would be included in the August 2026 primary. The new commissioners would then take office as soon as election results are certified in November 2026.

The new port candidate with the highest number of voters would serve three years, while the candidate with the second highest votes would only serve for one year. Those commissioners would be elected in odd numbered years, which is in line with the port’s current election cycle. Voters of the entire district would elect the new commissioners.

Port of Bellingham Commission

The Port of Bellingham race between incumbent Ken Bell and Bellingham businesswoman Carly James for District 2 was a squeaker, with James 96 votes ahead with 49.9 percent (28,255 votes) and Bell behind at 49.8 percent (28,159 votes). The race was the only contested one for the port and followed a year of controversial decisions on development and removal of leadership positions from port commissions that drew public criticism.

The other port race, District 1, was uncontested with incumbent Michael Shepard receiving an unenthusiastic 40,455 votes compared to the 56,414 votes cast for the Bell/James contest. Write-in ballots tallied 766, or 1.8 percent.

Blaine school board

The Blaine school board will soon have new faces with the election of Bob Feaster in District 3 and Chelsey Belarmino in District 5.

Feaster, an experienced educator, came out ahead in his race against cybersecurity engineer Jim Shaver, winning 61.8 percent to 37.4 percent. Feaster has 35 years’ experience in public education that includes serving as an assistant superintendent. He is the interim coordinator for the district’s Family Service Center.

Belarmino, a preschool and kindergarten teacher, ran unopposed for the District 5 position.

Whatcom County Council

Whatcom County Council will also have new input in the coming year with two of the four council races bringing new members.

The At-Large Position A seat, which represents the entire county, saw incumbent Barry Buchanan win another term against community activist Misty Flowers, who has previous vied for the seat. Buchanan received 63.2 percent of votes, while Flowers earned 36.6 percent.

Incumbent Kaylee Galloway ran unopposed for her District 1 seat. As for the other two contested county council races, Elizabeth Boyle won District 2 with 72.4 percent against Maya Morales, and Jessica Rienstra appeared the likely winner for District 3. Rienstra received 57 percent support, while opponent Kyle Christensen had 43 percent.

Whatcom County measures

The Whatcom County Charter Review Commission, a 15-member group that convenes every 10 years to review the county code, put forward 12 propositions on county government, some of which passed and others that were nixed by voters.

• Proposition 1, authorizing county councilmembers to hire legislative aides, was rejected by 63.6 percent.
• Proposition 2, establishing a Whatcom County Office of the Ombuds to investigate complaints and inquiries into county government, was rejected at the first ballot count by 52 percent, or 30,320 voters. The proposition received 48 percent approval from 27,950 voters.
• Proposition 3, creating performance audits, was approved by a whooping 85 percent.
• Proposition 4, clarifying the powers and duties of county elected officials, was also passed with an overwhelming 92 percent of support.
• Proposition 5, amending Whatcom County’s redistricting process to better comply with state law and require a public hearing, was approved with 79 percent.
• Proposition 6, adjusting the calculation of signatures required to place a referendum on ballots, was being rejected at the second ballot count with 52.4 percent, or 30,278 voters, against it. The proposition had 48 percent, or 27,563 voters, in support.
• Proposition 7, prohibiting the county government from interfering with initiatives or charter amendments, passed with 60.3 percent in support.
• Proposition 8, requiring more public disclosure requirements upon the county executive prior to approving budgets, was approved with 93.2 percent of support.
• Proposition 9, which added accountability to financial reporting requirements, was approved with 93.2 percent support.
• Proposition 10, creating rules of procedure for charter review commission meetings, passed by 84.2 percent.
• Proposition 11, adjusting the calculation of signatures required to place a charter amendment on ballots, looked like it would be rejected as it had 59.6 percent of voters against it.
• Proposition 12, requiring the county executive to publish an analysis of how new legislation could affect land supply and construction costs, passed by 87 percent.

State Joint Resolution 8201

The lone state measure, Senate Joint Resolution No. 8201, appeared on track for approval, with 56.7 percent of state voters in support and 44 percent against.

The measure would approve a constitutional amendment that the state legislature proposed allowing taxpayer money in the state’s long-term care fund to be invested.

Whatcom County voters closely mirrored the statewide sentiment, with 61 percent of county voters in support of the measure.