Primary ballots due August 5; hospital seat up for election

The Whatcom County Auditor’s office announced ballots for the August primary and special elections were mailed to registered voters on July 16, and voters should have received a ballot by July 22.

Election day is Tuesday, August 5. Ballots must be returned to an official ballot drop box before 8 p.m. on August 5, or by mail, postmarked by August 5.

This summer’s primary election includes plenty of local races as well as a county-wide levy lid lift for the Whatcom County Library System. Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 2 will feature incumbent Ken Bell, who has held the position since 2017, running against challengers Carly James, a Bellingham-based small business owner running for office for the first time, and Kaylin A. Bosley, also running for office for the first time.

Point Roberts Public Hospital District commissioner position two is open for election, with five candidates throwing their hat in the ring. Current commissioner Stephen Falk will step down after holding the position since being appointed in 2018 and elected in 2019.

Allison Calder, Jen Olson Kurcz, Alyssa Clark, Alice Strombom and Solomon Loop are all running for the hospital district commission position. For more information about each candidate, and to read their statements, visit bit.ly/4eRSgLp.

Whatcom County Library System, which oversees library access for everywhere in the county beside Bellingham, is asking voters to pass a levy lid lift to secure funding for WCLS operations, maintenance and development.

If passed, the property tax levy rate for WCLS would be set at $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed home value. State law caps property tax increases to one percent annually, meaning the library system is unable to keep up with inflation without voters agreeing to increase the levy rate.

Voter registration and address changes online or by mail must be received by the county auditor’s office by Monday, July 28.

In-person registration and address changes can be done at the auditor’s office Bellingham location, 311 Grand Avenue #103, Tuesday, July 29 through Tuesday, August 5.

For more information on the upcoming election, contact the elections division of the auditor’s office at elections@co.whatcom.wa.us or call 360/778-5102.

League of Women Voters release
interviews with local candidates

The League of Womens Voters of Bellingham-Whatcom County (LWVBWC) released a series of short recorded interviews with candidates for a host of primary races across the county, allowing voters a chance to review dozens of candidates on their own time.

Each interview is under 10 minutes long, with candidates for each position asked the same three questions regarding their elected bodies and plans for office so voters can directly compare each candidate.

Candidates for the Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 2, Blaine City Council Ward 2, Whatcom County Council Districts 2 and 3, and city of Sumas Council Position 2 are posted on the LWVBWC website.

All candidate interviews can be found on the LWVBWC website by visiting bit.ly/4lZU3AH.