Port of Bellingham Commissioner Districts 4 and 5, PUD District 1 Comm.

Two Port of Bellingham Board of Commissioners seats were up for election this year. In 2025, Whatcom County voters approved an expansion of the port’s board, increasing the number of commissioners from three to five.

The Whatcom County Auditor reported a turnout of 53% on election night, with 90,027 ballots received of 170,523 registered voters. The count is not final and the next update is expected Wednesday night.

These are the results as of press time for The Northern Light.

Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 4 

For District 4, Tor Benson, a shipping coordinator who has experience working in the commercial fishing industry, led with 59% of the vote as of Tuesday night. Paul Burrill, who has also worked in the commercial fishing industry and serves as president of the port’s Marina Advisory Committee, had 40% of the vote.

Benson did not immediately respond to phone calls on Tuesday night.

Burrill wrote in a text to The Northern Light that although the results didn’t turn out in his favor, he respected the voters’ decision.

“I congratulate Tor Benson and wish him the very best as he takes the responsibility of serving our community as port commissioner,” Burrill wrote Tuesday night.

Prior to the election, Benson said he was running because he enjoys serving his community. One of his top priorities is to bring the Bellingham Airport back to a profitable asset for the port. 

Benson serves as the treasurer of the Bellingham Bay Rotary Club, he said. He has experience working as an owner and operator of commercial fishing boats, and as a financial advisor.

Burrill said he was running because after more than a decade of serving on advisory committees, he wants to bring his knowledge and relationships to the port commission. His priorities are to protect the working waterfront and expand aviation opportunities.

Burrill has served as the chairman of the port’s Marina Advisory Committee since 2018, and has about 30 years of experience working in the commercial fishing industry.

Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 5 

In the District 5 race, Chris Elder, who helped found the Twin Sisters Farmers Market in east Whatcom County, led with 62% of the vote Tuesday night over Shawn Ensley’s 38% — while Elder said he wasn’t going to declare victory yet, he did feel good about his lead.

He attributed his successful campaign to the emphasis he put on agriculture, forestry, watershed and the climate. 

Ensley said that although the results didn’t look great for him, he was happy to try.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” Ensley said of his campaign. “I guess this is just how elections go, I don’t know. It’s my first time and last time.”

It takes a lot of energy to run a campaign, and he likely won’t try to run for an elected position again, he said.

Despite being a nonpartisan position, Ensley said he felt like it’s difficult to win an election against an opponent endorsed by the Whatcom Democrats, the county’s Democratic party. Elder said Ensley may not be wrong about that, as the Democratic candidates seemed to dominate the early results. 

Prior to the election, Elder, who worked for the county’s Planning and Development Services department for 11 years, said he hoped to identify investments for rural communities, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, recreation, tourism and tribal communities. His priorities are providing county residents with economic certainty during unpredictable times.

Elder said he helped found the Twin Sisters Farmers Market, and is the owner of Rivershed SPC, a natural resource consulting firm. He’s also a member of food, farmland, and flood prevention groups.

Ensley said that he’d like to promote economic development, and partner with businesses that bring living-wage jobs to east Whatcom County. Managing rising costs and the port’s aging infrastructure will be priorities if elected.

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.

Public Utility District Commissioner District 1

The incumbent Eddy Ury led with 71% of the vote on Tuesday night, as Frank Imhof trailed with 29%.

Ury has held the position since 2024 and currently serves as the President of the Whatcom PUD Board of Commissioners. 

According to the county voters’ pamphlet, Ury said he will continue working to expand core services while protecting and restoring natural resources. 

Imhof did not submit information for the county voters’ pamphlet, and he did not respond to The Northern Light’s election questionnaire.