LG Denny Heck keynote speaker

An enthusiastic overflow crowd turned out on July 10 to listen and speak to Washington state Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck at the Point Roberts Taxpayers Association’s annual general meeting. Heck was accompanied by state senator Sharon Shewmake and state representative Joe Timmons. Shewmake and taxpayers association president Mark Robbins worked to make Heck’s visit a reality after the senator told Robbins of Heck’s interest in visiting Point Roberts as a result of all the national attention the exclave had received during Covid and the current trade war between Canada and the U.S.

Heck began his remarks by saying, “I am genuinely gratified and honored to be here. It’s a trip I have never made but have wanted to make for a very long period of time. The sense of community here is unlike just about anything you can find anywhere else and it is inspiring.” He described his government service beginning with working for the State House of Representatives. “I’m in my fourth or final chapter of public service and that spans now 52 years,” he said.

“We do a lot of work with Canada, and that comes from a pretty deep sense of my sense of connection to Canada, to our country, and I’m going to be pretty blunt here. I don’t expect all of you to agree with me, and later, some people will ask questions or make comments that you probably don’t expect me to agree with. I want you to know I’m okay on that. It’s a hallmark of democracy that we can disagree, and it’s okay. We just need to do it respectfully,” said Heck.

“I’m literally heartbroken at what’s happened to our relationship,” he said, referring to the current political environment of the U.S. and Canada, adding, “And the reason is that Canada is not just our largest trading partner, they’re not just our longest and best ally. The sons and daughters of Canadians have been dying in trenches alongside American service members for as long as any of us can remember. But they’re not just allies and they’re not just trading partners. They are our friends, and they are our friends because we share values, and it is very difficult to hear some of the things being said about our oldest and best friends and allies and trading partners,” Heck said.

The Lieutenant Governor went on to describe work he had done to foster contact and cooperation between the Washington state and B.C. government and politicians. He also mentioned how he had lunch that day with the outgoing U.S. Consul General who had raised the idea of Point Roberts being an officially designated fan or viewing zone for next year’s FIFA World Cup. “I don’t know how far out of the station that train is with the planning committee, but it might be possible,” he said, promising to look into it on his return to Olympia.

Heck cautioned attendees that his position wasn’t an executive function and that he was limited in what he could do on behalf of residents. For example, after resident Elizabeth Mason proposed the idea of a tunnel (conservatively estimated to cost $11-17B), he said, “You’re talking a mega, mega project. It is not going to happen.” Later, Mason said, “It’s only money.”

He was more positive when it came to the question of finding out from the state department of revenue how much sales tax is generated in Point Roberts. Currently sales tax revenue is lumped in with the rest of unincorporated Whatcom County and the department of revenue has resisted breaking it down. Locals have long wanted to know how much the county receives from Point Roberts in order to bolster arguments for increased funding for the Point. Heck turned to senator Shewmake and told her that if she set up a meeting with the department of revenue director Drew Shirk, “I’ll be there.”

Following the Q&A, the meeting was adjourned and then resumed at The Reef for the business portion of the meeting.

For more info, go to www.allpointbulletin.com.