The Editor:
Blaine is a beautiful town full of potential, and we need thoughtful, experienced leadership to guide its future. That’s why we are proud to support Sukhwant Gill for Blaine City Council.
Mr. Gill brings a unique combination of business experience, public service and genuine community care. With over 30 years of managing large budgets, economic development and operating local businesses, including Blaine Mart and construction of the Namaste restaurant, Mr. Gill understands the importance of adaptability and long-term planning. His work in cross-border advertising and 18 years as a municipal paymaster for a population larger than Blaine and Birch Bay combined shows he knows how to navigate complex systems and budgets effectively.
But beyond his resume, Sukhwant Gill is a problem solver who listens. When he considered a project for a property he owns in Blaine, neighbors raised concerns – so he listened, changed course and found a better solution in another part of town. As he says, “Public service should not be about vanity. I will listen to and respond to your concerns. You are the boss.”
On the city council, Mr. Gill has helped create calm, find common ground and work toward solutions that benefit residents and small businesses alike. He understands the need for smart budgeting, strong city services, support for our growing dining and retail sectors, and preserving Blaine’s historic character.
My wife and I have spent our lives improving communities – myself as a police officer and mental health counselor (retired) and my wife as an educational consultant – and we see those same values reflected in Mr. Gill. He doesn’t just talk about change; he gets things done.
We’ll be voting for Sukhwant Gill for Blaine City Council, and we encourage you to do the same. Let’s keep Blaine moving forward – together.
Kevin Faulkner
Blaine
The Editor:
Charlie Kirk is barely in the ground and after the cursory “no place for political violence” declarations, the dehumanizing and hyperbolic rhetoric against fellow Americans begins again.
Ron Snyder and Cathy Taggett call ICE agents “brown shirts,” a colloquial term for the Nazi storm troopers. They reference the poem “First They Came” which includes, “They came for the Jews … then they came for me.” Are we on the verge of Nazi-style death camps? It sounds like it, because Snyder and Taggett finish with, “There is a time to be afraid.” Brian Bell references Trump and warns, “We’ve dispatched tyrants in the past … we can and will do it again.”
President Trump has been shot in the head once and escaped a second assassination attempt. I think we need to pump the brakes on the dispatching the president talk.
News flash, none of us are Nazis or fascists. People have differing political opinions, that’s all. In civil society we should be able to agree to disagree. What I cannot agree with is the dehumanization of people with whom you disagree. That behavior paved the way for the killing of millions of human beings.
Let’s throw out the Nazi and fascist playbook once and for all. I know it’s free speech to call someone a Nazi or fascist, but it can also foment violence. Let’s be more responsible. Charlie Kirk – husband, father of toddlers and an unborn child he will never hold – was killed by a so-called anti-fascist. The core tenet of fascism is strict obedience to the state. Charlie Kirk was for open dialogue and individual rights, not obedience to the state. The killer, spurned by a flood of mischaracterization and hate speech, hurt the very cause he claimed to profess.
The end of hyperbolic rhetoric, used by far too many, has to precede the obligatory ‘stop the violence’ proclamations. Just as we don’t tolerate racial slurs or hate speech against gays or marginalized groups, we need to confront the dehumanization of our fellow citizens. The vast majority are people of goodwill, whether they be on the right or the left.
Dave Berry
Birch Bay
The Editor:
As a child of the 1950s and 60s, music from the 1960s remains my favorite. I recently discovered an Australian group, The Seekers, though I was unaware of their later music. One of the later songs, “I Am Australian,” has become a favorite for several reasons.
I think that this song is a direct contrast to our situation in the U.S. today. The verses of “I Am Australian” describe the history of Australia from the Indigenous peoples in the Dream Time (when the land mass of Australia was formed) through its settling by English convicts and European people. The last verse and refrain though are what make the song applicable to the U.S. today.
“I am the rock/I am the sky/The rivers when they run/The spirit of this great land/ I am Australian/We are one/But we are many/We’ll share a dream/And sing with one voice/I am, you are, we are Australian.”
My visits to Australia have demonstrated that the Australian people largely personify the sentiments expressed in this song. The people of the U.S. today have become highly tribal and unwilling to have an open mind to the ideas of others. This is happening largely at the direction of our elected government, the president in particular; if you are not in their tribe, then you need to leave the country.
The idea of “live and let live” in the U.S. seems to now only exist in history books. Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and the other founding fathers would be appalled at what we have become.
Mike Tomlinson
Blaine
The Editor:
The behavior of the leadership of our Blaine City Council, reported in The Northern Light, has given me reason to question their lack of transparency. The disrespectful behavior was not acceptable in the words and actions toward Eric Lewis, regarding his earnest attempt to represent concerns of Blaine citizens. Our citizens have the right for civil public commentary and accountability. The issues are not partisan, and a code of ethics seems to be a no-brainer. What could be the motives in denying such public accountability?
Eric Lewis is working for the betterment and honesty of our Blaine City Council, and that’s what the emails showed. If hearing concerns from frustrated residents and bringing those items to council for possible action will result in uncivilized behavior to a council member, this would have a chilling effect on public input.
Eric Lewis is dedicated to listening to citizens of the city of Blaine and carefully researching issues that impact all citizens of Blaine. That is his job. I support him. Calling for a codified code of ethics is paramount to upholding expectations for the honesty of our representation in Blaine City Council. This should be expected. Thank you Eric Lewis.
Ani Ashford
Blaine
The Editor:
The Sierra Club is a national organization that embraces habitat, outdoor recreation, and quality of the natural and human environments. I chair our local affiliate, the Mount Baker Group, and I write today in support of Eric Lewis for Blaine City Council.
Eric understands the need to ensure clean drinking water supply and a healthy environment that provides great recreational opportunities. He also supports the simplifying of permitting and codes that can speed the building of housing for our families and workers.
Eric’s long track record as a volunteer and community member in Blaine makes him an excellent choice to be on council. The Sierra Club has endorsed him for these reasons.
Ned Vasquez
Chair, Mount Baker Group,
Sierra Club
Bellingham
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