For Lynden council, new sign-ups include Lee Beld and Gary Vis
WHATCOM — On Monday, Satpal Sidhu filed for a second term as County Executive, setting up a race with Barry Buchanan, who is the County Council chair, and Alicia Rule, who is Democratic State representative.
Sidhu says he has successfully led the county through a difficult period since 2019.
“Through it all, my focus has been on providing strong leadership, finding common ground, looking for smart solutions and putting people first,” he said in his reelection announcement.
Sidhu said he wants to keep making progress on issues including housing affordability, mental and behavioral health services, child and family support, salmon recovery, adjudication, flood resiliency and a new criminal justice facility.
Buchanan says he also has proven his leadership in 14 years on the Bellingham and Whatcom councils. For the county he cites as priorities public safety and criminal justice reform, mental healthcare access, affordable childcare, racial equity, clean drinking water and safeguarding taxes.
A navy veteran, Buchanan became an engineer and worked at Lockheed-Martin on some of the nation’s biggest projects such as the space shuttle and the Hubble space telescope.
Other county office incumbents who filed Monday for new four-year terms were Kathy Kershner, for the County Council District 4 (Lynden area) seat; Rebecca Xczar, for County Assessor; Steven Oliver, for County Treasurer; and Bobby Briscoe, for Port Commissioner from District 3 (generally west of Guide Meridian Road).
John Scanlon of Bellingham is a candidate for the County Council At-Large Position B that is currently held by Carol Frazey.
In two Whatcom County government jobs, the incumbent is retiring. On Monday, Doug Chadwick, sheriff second-in-command, filed to replace his 20-year elected boss, Bill Elfo, while multi-department deputy Stacy Henthorn filed to be county auditor in place of Diana Bradrick. In both cases, the incumbent endorses the candidate.
For Ferndale, three incumbents bid to return, Greg Hansen as mayor, and Herb Porter, Ali Hawkinson and Erin Gunter on the city council in positions 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
All four Lynden City Council positions up for election had candidates by Monday morning. Gary Bode seeks a seventh term in Position 1, and Brent Lenssen a fourth term in Position 4. Lee Beld, recently retired city police officer, filed for Position 2, from which Ron DeValois is retiring after 20 years. Gary Vis, former councilor and now Chamber of Commerce executive director, put his name in for Position 3, which has been filled by Gerald Kuiken for 36 years.
John Hammond is running again for Everson City Council Position 4.
Marshall Judy is running again for Nooksack City Council Position 5.
For Lynden School Board director, Nick Sawka, who spoke out against corrections reentry houses near Lynden schools in 2022, is a candidate for Position 2. Cynthia Petersen has been filling an unexpired term. Terry Montague bids for director Position 3, which is held now by David Vis.
Two other Lynden School Board positions are also up for election: Position 1, held by Board President C.J. Costanti, for a full four-year term, and Position 5, now held by Ken Owsley, for two years.
Marty Gray has filed to keep his Meridian School Board Position 4. Corey Culp, Meridian Youth Sports president, seeks Position 1 and Michelle Simmons, a Meridian Middle School parent, Position 5.
In the Nooksack Valley School District, both Joshua Clawson and Shelly Plat Harder want the Director District 3 spot now held by Mark Olson. From a recent restructuring, two district at-large positions must also be filled.
Danielle Gray will try to keep her Mount Baker School District Position 1, likewise Edward Fox in Position 2 and Russell Pfeiffer-Hoyt for Position 5. In all, four Mount Baker board positions must be filled.
Eric Grant bids for another six-year term as Fire District No. 7 (Ferndale area) Position 2 commissioner, and Russell Vreugdenhil of Sumas does the same for Fire District No. 14 Position 2.
Matthew Rigberg of Blaine wants to stay as Position 4 commissioner in Fire Protection District No. 21, also known as North Whatcom Fire & Rescue. Two other positions will be on the ballot.
John Kershner has filed for Cemetery District No. 10 (Lynden area) commissioner Position 2.
Filing for public offices, most of them at the local level in an odd-numbered year, continues all this week at the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.