A non-candidate’s answers to our questions:

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Editor's note: Frustrated that none of the “Gang of Four” –  Kathy Kersher, Bill Knutzen, Michelle Luke and Mary Beth Teigrob – responded to our questions, we asked our friend Alowishes Anonymous, to represent their views.

A.A., a long-term libertarian and a backer of Ron Paul in Whatcom County, takes credit for thinking up the, “We the People” campaign. His girl friend, Betsy, claims to have designed flag signs, and A.A. says he composed most of Ms. Teigrob's note cards that she uses in debate.

1) With growth inevitable, do you distinguish between desirable and undesirable development?

The market decides. You have marvelous examples in Birch Bay. When the Bay Crest communities were built, the goody goods complained there were no parks and playgrounds, but the low cost housing attracted many people who take good care of their homes. Now the communities look great. (Kids enjoy playing in the wide streets.) And in the D.B. Johnson sections they are still building and selling homes.

On the other hand you have the the Bovencamp project, Semihmoo Something, that the goodies loved, with big lots, marvelous views and “rain gardens.” The last time I looked there were only two buildings – the sales office and one demo home.

2) Building a berm to protect the beach and enhance walking, cycling, etc. for residents and visitors is a primary objective of leaders of the Birch Bay community. What would you do to help the community achieve this objective?

Nothing. When developers, like Bill Grant think a berm is needed, they will build it.

  3) With the goal of increasing infill, would you vote to prevent the fire district from charging mitigation fees for homes and other structures built within the 2031-revised Birch Bay UGA boundaries?

Yes, great question. Our motto is: FEWER, NOT MORE TAXES. Make those fire commissioners learn to economize. (“A penny saved is a penny earned!”) Let them start by selling off redundant fire stations. One is in the center of Lynden's industrial area; the city has its own fire department. The little used Semiahmoo station would be an ideal location for a restaurant.

4) Those who want Birch Bay to become a city are frustrated. Two years ago, the county invested $100,000 in a study that found incorporation would be financially feasible. Now, with the economic recession, some of the premises of the study may not be valid. Would you favor a select committee of county officials and knowledgeable community representatives being charged with updating the 2008 recommendations?

Who's frustrated? Bet if you took a poll, you would find that most of the homeowners want to live by our motto and keep taxes and services as they are. Establish a fund with volunteer contributions to keep Kathy Berg and Doralee Booth on the job pestering the county for “Birch Bay's Fair Share.”

If you really want Birch Bay to become a city, start by gerrymandering the UGA boundry in a corridor out the Birch Bay-Lynden Road beyond I-5. With control of the County Council, my Four could help Birch Bay with that. The addition would include Birch Bay Square and other commercial properties – Bill Henshaw says the total is 140,000 square feet.

Property owners, irate over LAMRIND, would gladly fund a study to demonstrate feasibility. With those additions, your tax base would be expanded quickly and offer the opportunity to create more. Every Monday the Seattle Time reports on startup tech companies. Some of those could be lured by low-rent and the Birch Bay environment. Bill Grant and angel investors, bored playing bridge on rainy days in Semiahmoo, could fund incubators to nourish more startups.      

A.A.