Four Strong Contenders for County Executive

The take-home from last Thursday evening's forum is that we are fortunate to have four strong candidates for County Executive. With mail-in ballots now out, the “non-partisan” primary election goes on until August 16. The two leaders from that vote will contend for the general election in November.

Tom Anderson told us he is the engineer administrator with problem solving skills. After a somewhat rocky opening statement that he read, Anderson demonstrated that he is a skilled communicator. His spontaneous answers to questions were miniature essays of clarity.

Doug Erickson is the seasoned politician, born with charisma, who has served in the state legislature for the 13 years since he was age 28. One of the state's strongest proponents for free enterprise, he said he believes businesses create jobs. If Erickson becomes County Executive, he could make Whatcom County into a little Texas – there are parallels in refining and farming. You can imagine how he might become a candidate for governor.

A robust Jack Louws comes on as experienced in both government, as an two-term mayor of Lynden, and business man, who headed a successful truss manufacturing company inherited from his father and now passed on to his son. Living in Birch Bay, he demonstrated an interest in the community and ventured the advice that incorporation would require urban streets that are more expensive than rural roads.

David Stalheim, ousted as the county's planning director and the progressives favorite was a pleasingly smart and witty debater. In contrast to Erickson, he said government can provide the framework for businesses to create jobs. His most telling point was that the county is sitting on an economic development fund of over $10 million from which only $1.5 million has been spent to improve the civic center. He suggested that some of that money could be invested in Birch Bay's berm project. Stalheim could win if Bellingham liberals rally to get out their vote in opposition to the Tea Party followers who dispute the state's growth-management act. Asked for advice for Birch Bay on incorporation, Stalheim said that first the county executive should sit down with community leaders to review the feasibility study that has been largely ignored. An alternative, he suggested, could be a “community council” similar to that operating in Manson, a resort community on Lake Chelan

This debate, hosted by Kathy Berg, of the Birch Bay Steering Committee, and moderated by John Gargett, President of the Birch Bay Camber of Commerce, spoke well for the potential of the community.

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About the coal trains, the consensus in this discussion was largely that, if environmental controls are established and enforced, the bulk coal dock at Cherry Point could be approved.

A detailed discussion of this issue can be found at www.getwhatcomplanning.blogspot.com, operated by Jean Melious and David Stalheim

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[Comments gratefully encouraged.]