The Northern Light asked candidates for contested races representing the Blaine and Birch Bay areas in the November 4 general election one simple question: If elected or re-elected, how would you serve constituents in Blaine and Birch Bay?
The candidates for Blaine City Council, Blaine school board, Port of Bellingham and Whatcom County provided the following written responses.
The Blaine City Council Ward 1 Position is a four-year term that represents residents east of 6th Street and in the southeast portion of the city. Incumbent Eric Lewis and challenger Jiggy Sorrell are vying for the seat.
Eric Lewis
Incumbent Eric Lewis was appointed to Blaine City Council in October 2024. He is an electrician who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a member of Blaine Community Theater and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9474.
Answer: I will continue my track record of practical fixes and optimistic vision for Blaine. I welcome feedback, and I cosponsored the return of public comment because a council member’s job is to hear out the concerns and suggestions from all the people and businesses in our community, then take action if needed. Facing rising costs and reduced city income from visitors at the moment, I supported cutting half a million dollars of optional spending for frills that we can do later. But I look to future goals for great recreation plus theater & arts that can pair with the great dining destination that Blaine is becoming.
My background as an electrical maintenance technician helps me advocate for our city to have enough equipment and staff to quickly restore power when there’s an outage. As a marine, I had to drink contaminated water, which motivates me to ensure that we have safe clean drinking water here in Blaine. We need a mix of housing options for our workforce, families, and retirees, so I am ready to support quality development and get barriers out of the way and simplify our permitting and building process.”
Jiggy Sorrell
Jiggy Sorrell is director of programs at Brilliant Planet, a nonprofit providing free bikes to Blaine and Birch Bay children. He is also a U.S. Navy veteran who serves on the MERIS (Marine, Economic and Research Institute for Sustainability) Executive Committee and Drayton Harbor Shellfish Advisory Committee.
No response was submitted.
The Blaine City Council Ward 2 position is a four-year term representing most of the Salishan neighborhood and southwest of downtown to city limits. Candidates Isaac Newland and Ray Leone are racing to represent the ward.
Isaac Newland
Isaac Newland is a software developer for managing international supply chains. He has been involved with Key Club and volunteering with youth sports and school activities.
A: If elected, I will work to make Blaine a community where residents feel heard, supported, and proud of the direction we’re heading. I believe city leadership should listen to constituents first, before council votes are cast and plans are finalized, because the best ideas often come from the people who live here.
I will fight for affordable housing so that young families and working residents can build their futures in Blaine. I would love for my children to be able to live and work in the city they were raised in. I will also advocate for strong partnerships with our schools, because they are the heart of our community and the foundation of our future success.
To create long-term stability, we need to broaden our economy beyond border traffic and tourism. I will support efforts to attract light industry and other sustainable business opportunities that bring steady jobs and revenue to Blaine year-round.
Together, we can build a more resilient, inclusive city, one that grows responsibly while keeping Blaine’s small-town character and community spirit strong.
Ray Leone
Ray Leone is a retired nurse and teacher who is involved with the Blaine Senior Center and Salishan Neighborhood Association. Leone regularly attends city council and planning commission meetings.
A: If I was to serve on council, I will not make promises that I won’t or cannot keep. I would support returning community voice during council meetings. I’d have the expectation of an ethical city council and city hall that engages our residents first and manages our city with clarity and transparency. I will not be a pawn of special interests nor serve you as a politician but hold office as a community representative. I will listen to both residents and our visitors. Listening means one will get the consideration of an ear. If not getting what you want, it means my being willing to explain why not. I will question, seek clarity, perspective, be ethical, truthful, and keep an open mind. I’ll encourage, be an advocate for vision, quality of life, community character, the environment, and for quality over quantity as we develop Blaine. Can any city councilor anywhere really do this alone? I believe such can only happen through an active partnership with the community. If I am given the privilege of serving, I would ask of you to help serve as well. Be an active partner together with me as we develop a Better Blaine.
The Blaine City Council Ward 3 position is a four-year term representing Semiahmoo, west of 6th Street and the northern part of Salishan neighborhood. Candidates Sukhwant Gill and Don Enos are vying for the position.
Sukhwant Gill
Sukhwant Gill is a former Blaine City Council member who owns Shell gas station on D Street and the Blaine Mart convenience store. Gill has also served on the Blaine Tourism Advisory Committee.
No response was provided.
Don Enos
Don Enos is a real estate agent who currently serves on Blaine Planning Commission and is vice president of the Blaine Chamber of Commerce. He also is on the Whatcom County Association of Realtors’ government affairs and education committees.
No response was provided.
The Blaine School Board District 3 position is a four-year term representing north Birch Bay and Birch Point. Bob Feaster and Jim Shaver are competing to represent the district.
Bob Feaster
Bob Feaster has 35 years’ experience in public education that includes serving as assistant superintendent, school psychologist and special education director. He is interim coordinator of Blaine school district’s Family Service Center and volunteers for several Blaine area nonprofits.
A: I will continue to serve our community, as I have for the past 8 years, giving my time and energy working for those in need, by volunteering with the Community Assistance Program (CAP), Wildbird Charity, and Peace Arch Education Foundation.
Two themes of my candidacy are “Let’s listen to each other and work together for our students” and “Experience and knowledge matter”. I will serve the Blaine school district with these in mind.
I have always been a listener and firmly believe that we need to listen to each other and collaborate for our students. It’s a principle that will guide my actions moving forward. I will seek to hear from all, including those who are often not heard. I believe in working hard to represent families and students.
I have 35 years of experience working in public schools. This, combined with my 8 years working in Blaine schools, ensures that I will be able to immediately advocate for our employees, families, and students on day one.
I will also work to have our district move forward and to be the district that parents are excited to have their children attend. We can and will have a bright future.
Jim Shaver
Jim Shaver is a cybersecurity engineer who has served as a precinct committee officer. He has volunteered for Blaine school district, Kulshan Community Land Trust and the Mount Baker Beekeepers Association.
A: If elected to the school board, my commitment to the Blaine school district centers on four key priorities.
First, I will work to strengthen communication between the district, families, and community members. Transparent, accessible dialogue builds trust and ensures everyone has a voice in our students’ education.
Second, I am dedicated to hiring a superintendent who embraces community engagement and understands the unique needs of our district. Strong leadership that listens and collaborates is essential for success.
Third, I believe education should inspire curiosity and critical thinking and that technology should support, not replace that thinking. I will advocate for teaching practices that help students become lifelong learners, equipping them not just with knowledge, but with the skills to adapt, question, and grow.
Finally, I am committed to fostering a culture of respect and acceptance that stands firmly against bullying. Every student deserves to feel safe and valued at school. By promoting empathy and including everyone, we can create an environment where all students thrive.
These priorities reflect my belief that strong schools are built on communication, leadership, learning, and compassion. I would be honored to have the opportunity to serve our community and our children.
The Whatcom County Council At-Large Positon A is a four-year term representing all Whatcom County residents that incumbent Barry Buchanan and Misty Flowers are on the ballots for.
Barry Buchanan
Incumbent Barry Buchanan has served on Whatcom County Council since 2013, is a former Bellingham City Councilor and former chair of the Whatcom County Democrats. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and has worked as vice president of Bianchi Group.
A: I feel that the Blaine/Birch Bay community has been very divided over water issues and Urban Growth Areas. I would like to help facilitate a meaningful conversation with all stakeholders in the room to start a healing and regenerative process. Everyone means well with the passionate efforts to seek their vision for the area. We need that honest, “everyone at the table”, face-to-face, problem solving in order to find the best solutions for growth in the Blaine/Birch Bay community. The other thing I will do is to continue to support Birch Bay in their quest to find the answers to potential incorporation.
Misty Flowers
Misty Flowers is a small business owner and works in holistic wellness. She is chair of the Whatcom County Republican Party and was a lead organizer of Be Brave Washington, which advocated against Covid-19 vaccine mandates.
A: If elected, I will serve Blaine and Birch Bay residents through better representation on the council. I will ensure your tax dollars are used wisely and efficiently instead of increasing your taxes. I will help protect your property and water rights, work to increase living wage jobs and housing options. I will address water management issues by prioritizing infrastructure that protects people and property. I will strengthen county relationships within and around the county, ensuring our smaller cities are included in budget needs so that our county at-large is better represented. Thank you for your support and if elected, I look forward to serving you on Whatcom County Council.
The Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 2 position is a four-year term that represents part of east Bellingham, most of Lynden, Everson and Maple Falls. Incumbent Ken Bell and Carly James are competing for the seat.
Ken Bell
Incumbent Ken Bell has served on the Port of Bellingham Commission since 2017 and is president and CEO of Iron Creek Group, a soil remediation company. He has also served on the Whatcom County Planning Commission and the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission.
A: The north county has long been neglected for infrastructure investments. This commissioner has been advocating for investment every year of my term. We brought full occupancy back to the harbor by adjusting rates to attract business. Today the marina is full. During my term we spent $1.77 million cleaning contamination along Sigurdson so we could begin rebuilding. We spent $1.4 million upgrading Westman Marine infrastructure, over $860,000 on extending the life or our moorage and marina and $330,000 to build a safer fuel tank farm.
We will continue this pattern of investing heavily in Blaine’s working waterfront to modernize facilities, improve safety, and enhance environmental stewardship. Major projects include expanding the Blaine Boatyard, constructing new Westman Marine travel lift piers, and completing extensive MTCA cleanup work to restore marine areas. Infrastructure renewal will continue with pier repairs, dredging to maintain navigational depth, and replacement of the Sea K Fish bulkhead and piers. Supported by significant State and Federal grants, these projects – totaling nearly $40 million – will strengthen Blaine’s maritime economy, create family-wage jobs, and ensure a cleaner, more resilient harbor for future generations.
Blaine and Birch Bay are important investments for attracting tourism and vital for our commercial fishing industry.
Carly James
Carly James owns Bison Bookbinding and Letterpress, which has two downtown Bellingham locations. She also owns an accounting and consulting firm and has volunteered with the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
No response was provided.
