The Northern Light asked candidates for uncontested races representing the Blaine and Birch Bay areas in the November 4 general election one simple question: How do you plan to serve constituents in Blaine and Birch Bay?
The candidates for Blaine City Council, Blaine school board, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, Port of Bellingham and Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 provided the following written responses.
Michael Alvarez Shepard
Incumbent Michael Alvarez Shepard is running unopposed for the Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 1 position. The four-year position represents southern Whatcom County through part of Bellingham and just south of Deming.
Shepard has served two terms on the port commission and is a faculty member of Western Washington University’s anthropology department.
Answer: The Port of Bellingham has a mission for county-wide economic development. The port operates marinas in Blaine, Fairhaven and Bellingham, along with the Bellingham Shipping Terminal, in support of a vibrant marine trades economy.
Other key port services include the airport, our light industrial and commercial real estate lands, workforce development pathways, broadband internet installation, environmental cleanups, and redevelopment of Bellingham’s Waterfront District.
Blaine Harbor provides essential services for the Blaine and Birch Bay communities and has an excellent opportunity for expanded job creation, tourism and community enjoyment. Over the next budget period, the port plans to spend nearly $50 million to complete environmental cleanups in Blaine Harbor, upgrade infrastructure, reopen the boatyard and reopen Jorgensen Pier for public access.
I am excited to complete the cleanups as they will enable the expansion of marine trades businesses. The redeveloped boatyard will have a public-run boatlift and quality repair facilities. Jorgensen Pier is a treasured facility for the community, and it is past time to invest in improved public access.
I appreciate that the lack of Canadian visitors has created a significant economic challenge. This underscores the importance of investment by our public port to support Blaine and Birch Bay.
Sarbie Bains
Incumbent Sarbie Bains is the only active candidate on the ballot for the Blaine City Council At-Large Position 7. Former councilor Mike Hill’s name is on the ballot, but he has said he does not intend to run. The at-large position is a four-year term that represents all Blaine city residents.
Bains was appointed to council this summer to fill the seat left vacant by Hill. She owns Blaine Bouquets in downtown and has volunteered with Blaine school district.
A: As a current Blaine City Councilor, small business owner and mother of children in the Blaine school district, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our community faces – and I’m running to build solutions that matter. My priorities are creating living wage jobs, expanding housing options and supporting our schools through expanded recreational facilities.
I will work with local businesses and regional partners to attract employers that offer good-paying jobs and long-term growth. By streamlining permitting and investing in infrastructure, we can make Blaine a place where businesses thrive and residents prosper.
Housing is another critical need. I’ll advocate for smart development that balances affordability with quality, ensuring families, seniors and workers have access to safe, attainable homes.
Finally, I believe our youth deserve spaces to play, grow, and connect – just like other cities in Whatcom County have created. I’m committed to securing funding and partnerships to build recreational facilities that support our schools and strengthen community ties.
Serving Blaine means listening, leading and delivering. I’m ready to keep doing the work – and I’m asking for your support to continue building a Blaine that works for everyone.
Ryan Swinburnson
Incumbent Ryan Swinburnson is not being challenged for his seat on Blaine School Board. The Blaine school board district 4 position is a two-year unexpired term that represents the majority of Birch Bay and all of Point Whitehorn.
Swinburnson was appointed to the Blaine school board in March 2024. He is a criminal defense attorney who grew up in Blaine and has coached youth sports.
A: Our school district is the heartbeat of our community. I represent Birch Bay, but I believe a school board member represents the entire district. What has struck me as a board member is how few times decisions are made, or even discussions had, from the point of view of what is best for the students. In my opinion, every decision made over the next two years must result in a benefit to our students.
Blaine must strive to produce better academic results, provide extracurricular opportunities for every student, strengthen our arts and bring back CTE classes. We need to ensure a safe learning environment where all students can flourish.
Blaine and Birch Bay make up a substantial portion of our district, however, it is important to recognize and engage all parts of the district. Maintaining a school that provides excellence in education and an environment where students can personally grow should be our goal every day. If that is the goal of every staff member, administrator and school board member, then we will once again have a heartbeat where all parts of our community will thrive.
That’s what I promise to do on our school board.
Chelsey Belarmino
Chelsey Belarmino is running unopposed for the Blaine School Board district 5 position. The position is a four-year term currently held by Steve Galbraith that represents Semiahmoo and the area between Dakota and California creeks.
Belarmino is a preschool and kindergarten teacher who has been a Parent Teacher Organization and Parent Teacher-Student Organization member since 2017.
A: As a Blaine School Board director, I will serve the residents of Blaine and Birch Bay by continuing to build on the strong relationships I’ve already formed across our schools and community. I will listen and stay present in events, conversations and community spaces to hear firsthand the priorities of residents and seek to make sure every staff member and family feels seen and supported.
As the board seeks a new long-term superintendent, my priority will be to find someone who deeply values community engagement, is committed to responsibly working with ongoing budget constraints while advocating for better funding, and ensures teachers and staff feel valued and respected in their work and classroom perspectives.
I will work to draw families to Blaine school district by highlighting the strengths of the many dedicated individuals who serve our entire community. I will honestly look at the factors that have made it difficult for some to stay, working collaboratively to improve those areas so Blaine and Birch Bay remain where people want to call “home.”
I will work with the other school board directors to continue pressing state legislators to better prioritize public education in Washington.
Craig Anthony
Incumbent Craig Anthony is not being challenged for his position as fire commissioner for Fire Protection District 21, also known as North Whatcom Fire and Rescue. Anthony was appointed to the six-year term position.
Anthony is a Blaine resident who previously served as deputy director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and oversaw 97 stations as Riverside County Fire Chief.
A: Fire District 21 has three career-staffed stations; Blaine (#61), Birch Bay (#63) and Laurel (#69 on Guide Meridian). Each of these stations are staffed with three career firefighters.
The district has overspent revenue the last two years. Difficult decisions are necessary to balance the budget. As a commissioner, my responsibility is to ensure that the district is efficient and effective. In 2006, the levy rate was $1.42, decreasing to $0.76 in 2024. The district is allowed a maximum annual revenue increase of one percent per year. The district has been unsuccessful in convincing the voters since 2006 that a levy increase is necessary to maintain service levels.
The district has already reduced the number of chiefs and support staff in order to support fire station staffing levels. As a commissioner, and retired fire chief, my role is to ensure district residents have all the availability information to decide the district funding level. Based on the voters’ decision, the board of commissioners will have to adjust staffing levels to remain within budget.
As a commissioner, I will support a minimum of three person staffing for all stations. The increasing annual emergency call volume has resulted in longer response times and higher percentage of overlapping emergencies. I believe the staffing of existing Semiahmoo Station 62 would improve emergency response times for the entire district.
Sheli Moore
Incumbent Sheli Moore is not being challenged for the Commissioner Position 2 seat on the Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 (BBBPRD2). The position is a four-year term on the five-person commission.
Moore is currently chairman of the parks commission and is serving her third term with the district. She is a lifelong Blaine resident who works as a bookkeeper and is involved in the Salishan Neighborhood Association, among other organizations.
A: I am continuing to work on connecting the communities with a safe bike/pedestrian route. I have recently worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Blaine Public Works to install the crosswalk and warning signs at the Peace Portal Drive and Hughes Avenue. I will be applying for grant funding to install rectangular rapid flashing beacons at this intersection for additional safety measures.
I am also working with WSDOT on starting the process to plan for bike/pedestrian and traffic improvements on SR-548 (Blaine Road) from Grandview Road north to the Blaine city limits. We will be applying for the appropriate grants to help fund this project and look for support from our local legislators.
We are also currently working through the permit process to build our California Creek Estuary Park. We will be applying for grant funding to help with the community connector trail that will connect Lincoln Road (in the dead-end section) to Drayton Harbor Road at the mouth of California Creek through our park.
BBBPRD2 will continue to excel at managing community events and programming classes for all ages and activities.
We look forward to keeping our community moving.
Billy Brown
Incumbent Billy Brown is heading into the November election unopposed to retain his seat on the parks board. The position is a four-year term serving Blaine and Birch Bay.
Brown is a real estate broker who has previously served as president of the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce and volunteers at community events.
A: The Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2 has evolved into a thriving entity with huge community support by providing and supporting many quality recreational opportunities for the people that live and recreate within the boundaries of the parks district.
We have built a sustainable plan to provide these recreation opportunities in the future as long as the funding that the parks district receives from the community continues. I believe this has been accomplished through the hard work of many employees and volunteers past and present along with the desire of the people within our community to enjoy our services. These people are the key to our success.
My goal is to continue to guide our parks district to foster these relationships, grow our recreational facilities, increase the number of programs that we offer, improve existing programs and finish what we have started.
Please visit our website at bbbparkandrec.org and sign up to receive our newsletter, visit the Blaine Community Center at 763 G Street in Blaine, or the Birch Bay Activity Center at 7511 Gemini Street in Birch Bay and see what we have to offer. Please support me with your vote.
To read last week’s article on responses from contested candidates, click here.
