The Editor:
I am currently the president of the Blaine School Board, representing District 3. I am aware of what it takes to be an effective school board member. I am writing to endorse Bob Feaster, who is running to represent District 3 on our school board.
I have known Bob for the past two years through school district-related business. Bob is a practical and rational thinker. He is a long-time educator who is committed to public education in general and to the Blaine School District in particular.
Bob has been engaged in supporting the Blaine school district in many ways, including working in our district for over seven years, volunteering to feed students, and serving on the board of the Peace Arch Education Foundation.
Bob understands school systems and the role of school board members. He is a team member who will work well with other board members. He understands how to help lead the school district with his understanding of vision, direction setting, and education policy. Bob has the skills to be an effective and positive school board member and will serve us well.
I encourage our community to vote for Bob Feaster for the school board on November 4.
Cliff Freeman
Blaine
The Editor:
I met Blaine city council member Eric Lewis at the Salishan neighborhood picnic. I heard that he listens to everyone equally, good and bad.
I also checked out the other candidate running for the same seat, Jiggy Sorrell, an enthusiastic man who just moved here, but received $1,000 in campaign money from the developer of the most contentious project of the past decade, the very project that got people protesting in the first place. I just don’t feel comfortable about that. Voting Lewis.
Alex Abundis
Blaine
The Editor:
I am writing to support Bob Feaster for the Blaine school district board of directors, District 3.
Bob has a deep resume of experience to run for the School Board including 35 years in public education. Feaster has been a school psychologist, special education director and assistant superintendent as well as a university instructor teaching graduate courses in psychology and education. He was also a high school football official for 20 years, as stated in The Northern Light newspaper.
His deep understanding of what it takes to serve the needs of the students, as well as the school district, will be beneficial to the entire Blaine school district. The board of directors has a great deal of responsibility to oversee the priorities of the district in the best way possible. I believe Bob’s background will serve those responsibilities well by bringing his strong leadership skills to the district. Bob Feaster will not be “learning on the job!”
I have had the opportunity to sit down with Bob and I came away impressed by his level of straightforwardness in his approach to the needs of a district and its students. Bob is a realist. He understands that proper management of the district’s assets, in terms of both finances and personnel resources, will be vital. Bob will not be new to these issues, as he comes ready to use his experience to help get the job done.
Bob has also committed to represent District 3’s interests, which includes a significant portion of the Birch Bay community, in a fair and inclusive way. He is committed to the principle that the purchase of land in the Birch Bay community for a future elementary school is something that the Blaine school district needs to be committed to and believes can be achieved in the near future. Funds for this purpose have been set aside for several years and it is time to put them to good use.
Vote for Bob Feaster, Blaine school board, District 3.
Pat Jerns
Birch Bay
The Editor:
In The Northern Light article about the Blaine Comprehensive Plan (“City of Blaine presents comprehensive plan update,” by Grace McCarthy), it is noted that “the open house marked the city’s first official step of public engagement in the planning process, which the city planners have been working on for over a year.”
The Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) requires “early, continuous, and inclusive public participation throughout the planning process.” Not at the end. This fact invalidates the Blaine Comprehensive Plan for violation of the cornerstone of GMA – public participation. It must be abandoned and started over.
Jay Taber
Blaine
The Editor:
As a former president of the Blaine School Board, I have had the privilege of knowing many individuals dedicated to improving education for our community. It is from this perspective that I write to express my strong support for Bob Feaster as a candidate for the Blaine School Board.
Bob’s impressive 35 years of experience in public education uniquely qualify him to serve our district. His career as a school psychologist, special education director, and assistant superintendent reflects not only a deep understanding of the educational system but also a commitment to addressing the needs of all students – from those who are highly capable and college-bound to those struggling with social, emotional, or economic challenges.
In addition to his professional expertise, Bob has demonstrated a profound commitment to community service. His volunteer work with organizations such as the Community Assistance Program, Wildbird Charity, and the Peace Arch Education Foundation shows that he understands the importance of community support in creating strong schools.
Public education is the heart of our community. It’s where children of diverse backgrounds come together to learn, grow, and prepare for their future. Bob recognizes this and has the time, energy, and passion to ensure that every child in our district has the opportunity to succeed. He values listening to diverse voices and working collaboratively, qualities that are essential for effective school board leadership.
As someone who has navigated the complex responsibilities of serving on the Blaine School Board, I know firsthand that it requires dedication, thoughtful decision-making, and a genuine desire to support students, families, and educators. Bob embodies all of these qualities.
I urge our community to vote for Bob Feaster. His knowledge, experience, and commitment will help guide Blaine schools toward a future where every student is prepared for success in school and beyond.
Don Leu
Former president, Blaine School Board
Blaine
The Editor:
The city is asking the citizens to vote in favor of de-annexing a portion of east Blaine. The de-annexation is necessary to enable the city to annex a portion of west Blaine.
On August 7, 2025 council member Richard May wrote a letter extolling the virtues of de-annexing a portion of east Blaine and annexing west Blaine. He stated that there would be high-density housing near Semiahmoo whether the property was under the control of the city or not. Therefore, the land needs to be annexed.
Mr. May stated, “If west of Semiahmoo becomes a part of Blaine, then we can protect the wooded character of current Semiahmoo by ensuring wildlife corridors and ample landscape buffers,” as justification for the de-annexation/annexation. The area in question is zoned RPR (residential planned recreation) which has no provisions in the zoning code for protection of wooded areas, buffers, or wildlife corridors. The city can put such requirements in the PUD proposed by the developer. But will the city hold the developer to a higher standard than is required by the zoning codes?
Doubtful.
Case in point, on August 1, 2023, a group of Blaine citizens appeared before a hearing examiner to testify against Tract D proposal in Sea Smoke. The hearing examiner’s determination dated August 13 was a compromise between the two party’s interests. On September 15, Blaine City Council overturned the hearing examiner in favor of the developer and allowed the developer to proceed.
This is only one example of the city not standing with its citizens. The likelihood of the citizens of Blaine having a voice that is heard by the city is remote.
The developer of the west Blaine area has shown his concern for buffers and wildlife at Sea Smoke. Sea Smoke is zoned RPR, has been clear cut, many of the five-foot backyards are fenced, or asphalted, or rock. The developer’s idea of a buffer is clearly seen by driving west on Semiahmoo Parkway and looking south. According to the city’s map, Blaine is already in control of the tree buffer area along Semiahmoo Drive.
Therefore, why annex?
Deborah Alexander
Blaine
The Editor:
I attended the City of Blaine’s information session last Tuesday and came away with two impressions: Blaine is prioritizing its own interests, and history may be repeating itself.
I currently serve on the Birch Bay Advisory Committee (BBCAC) and was Blaine’s city manager from 2013 to 2018. The BBCAC, formed by Whatcom County last winter, advises on issues affecting Birch Bay. We have consistently raised concerns about Blaine’s proposal to annex nearly 1,000 acres of Birch Point Urban Growth Area (UGA) land. We are not anti-development; we are concerned about impacts.
Traffic is already challenging for Birch Bay and Semiahmoo residents, with backups on Harborview, Bell, Peace Portal, and Birch Bay-Lynden roads. Thousands of new car trips from large-scale development would overwhelm the limited road network unless major expansions are made. Stormwater is another major issue: paving and roofs increase runoff, which ultimately flows into Birch Bay. At the meeting, these concerns were brushed aside, leaving residents with the impression our voices don’t matter.
We’ve seen this before. In 1996 Blaine annexed East Blaine, where development stalled for years due to the high costs of utility infrastructure. Only after state funding helped cover those costs did East Maple Ridge move forward, while Grandis Pond remained unbuilt because utilities were financially unfeasible. I wonder if Birch Point faces the same fate.
The proposed swap will carry enormous utility, road, and stormwater costs – costs that will ultimately be passed to homeowners through sale price, utility rates, and taxes. Pumping sewer to the treatment plant at Marine Park and back to the Birch Point outfall will be energy-intensive and expensive. Blaine is also expected to include affordable housing, but can those units realistically absorb the cost burden? Is development feasible? If density is the answer, that means even more cars and impervious surfaces.
If approved, Blaine’s UGA swap will directly affect Birch Bay, yet decisions will rest with Blaine’s council. The message is clear: Blaine first, Birch Bay second. The city gains tax base – while our community bears the impacts.
Dave Wilbrecht
Birch Bay
The Editor:
Ray Leone has been a resident and active member of the Salishan Neighborhood Association for many years.
Maybe you don’t know, but Ray is a retired registered nurse.
Not everybody is competent and capable enough to be a nurse. You need: Compassion, understanding, love, dedication, patience, respect for human dignity, and communication. Those are some of the qualifications of a good nurse. I could quote many more, I could go on and on about the attributes of a good nurse.
Ray has all of those attributes. It is a guarantee that Ray would bring all of those attributes to the Blaine City Council.
For people who don’t know him, I trust him, I believe in him. He will be there for us, he will represent us. Ray is our man.
Jocelyne Harsch
Blaine
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