Whatcom County’s candidate filing period for the August 5 primary election ended, and 149 candidates have officially filed to run for 100 open offices.
Offices are up for election this summer, including positions on Blaine City Council, Whatcom County Council, the Blaine school district board of directors, Port of Bellingham commission, Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 commission, and Birch Bay Water and Sewer District commission, among others.
Read below for a list of candidates running for local office:
• Blaine City Council, Ward 1, Position 2 (representing Blaine east of Interstate 5 to H Street, and east of 6th Street): Appointee Eric Lewis and Jiggy Sorrell.
• Blaine City Council, Ward 2, Position 4 (representing Blaine south of Boblett Street and southeast of Harrison Avenue, west of Interstate 5): Isaac Newland, Steven Tojek and Ray Leone. Incumbent Rhyan Lopez is not running for reelection.
• Blaine City Council, Ward 3, Position 6 (representing downtown Blaine west of 6th Street and Harrison Avenue, and Semiahmoo): Sukhwant Gill and Don Enos. Incumbent Eric Davidson is not seeking reelection.
• Blaine City Council, At-Large, Position 7: Incumbent Mike Hill and Sarbie Bains.
• Whatcom County Superior Court, Judge Position 5: Jennifer Slattery, who was appointed to the new position last year, will run unopposed.
• Whatcom County Council, District 1: Incumbent Kaylee Galloway will run unopposed.
• Whatcom County Council, District 2: Elizabeth Boyle, Maya Morales and Mike Cullum. Incumbent Todd Donovan will not seek reelection.
• Whatcom County Council, District 3: Incumbent Tyler Byrd, Jessica Rienstra, Kyle Christensen and Daniel Probst.
• Whatcom County Council, At-Large Position A: Incumbent Barry Buchanan and Misty Flowers.
• Blaine School District 503, Director, District 3 (representing roughly the north half of Birch Bay): Bob Feaster and Jim Shaver. Incumbent and board president Cliff Freeman is not running again.
• Blaine School District 503, Director, District 4 (representing generally the south half of Birch Bay east of Blaine Road): Incumbent Ryan Swinburnson is running unopposed.
• Blaine School District 503, Director, District 5 (representing most of Semiahmoo and Blaine between Dakota and California creeks): Chelsea Belarmino is running unopposed.
• Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 1 (representing parts of Bellingham, Fairhaven, Lake Whatcom and Van Zandt): Michael Shepard will run
unopposed.
• Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 2 (representing Lynden, Maple Falls, Everson, Deming and parts of Bellingham): Incumbent Ken Bell, Carly James and Kaylin A. Bosley. Paul Burrill initially filed to run, but rescinded his bid.
• Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, Commissioner, Position 3: John Schindler and Joan Connell.
• Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, Commissioner, Position 2: Incumbent Sheli Moore is running unopposed.
• Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, Commissioner, Position 4: Incumbent Billy Brown is running unopposed.
• Fire Protection District 21 (North Whatcom Fire and Rescue), Commissioner, Position 3: Interim commissioner Craig Anthony is running unopposed.
The deadline for candidates to submit voters’ pamphlet content is Tuesday, May 20. Ballots are expected to be mailed July 16, and the last day for new voters to register online is July 28.
Results for the August 5 primary election will be certified by August 19, and the general election will be held November 4. The primary election is a top-two system, meaning the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the November general election, regardless of party.
For a full list of candidates, visit votewa.gov. For more information about Whatcom County elections, contact the auditor’s office at 360/778-5102 or elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.
