We can expect Kelli Linville to declare her candidacy for Bellingham Mayor in mid February, according to multiple anonymous sources. And we can expect Jack Louws to declare for Whatcom County Executive anytime, according to others who must remain unnamed. If they announce, then in these two candidates we citizens will have excellent alternatives to the two guys currently messing things up for both our city and county. We - liberals and conservatives alike - can join in electing these two to guide our community in the coming years.
Two well-liked council representatives will probably not run for these offices. Carl Weimer has mulled running for County Executive but political rumor has it that he will not. Barry Buchanan filed for mayor last fall and while I have not spoken to him for this article, he will probably step aside gracefully and support Kelli for mayor. As with political junkie inside-info articles of past years - including the "Campaigns, Candidates and Confabs" series in the Whatcom Independent - this is written based on reliable anonymous sources.
Let's look more closely at the mayor situation.
Mayor Dan Pike has pretty much alienated the core of supporters who boosted his election for mayor in 2007, this writer included. When he ran, all the established liberal factions were committed to other candidates - the labor-dominated, older generation Democrats to Don Keenan and the younger, environmentally active Democrats and Liberals to Dan McShane. Pike took support where he could find it - and that was from supposedly marginalized activists. His ads featured endorsements by people who normally are not wanted on endorsement ads, such as this writer. Tip Johnson held the environmental flanks for Pike. Another independent activist built and maintained his website. Many others helped in a strong effort to elect a person we felt qualified and who promised reforms.
It did not take long for disappointment to move in - like the day after his election. Pike failed to even make a phone call to thank the person who ran his website. He shut himself off from his group of pick-up supporters and started courting the supporters of his opponents, thinking he could win them over for his next election campaign. And he ignored his campaign promises. Dan Pike proved to be a highly skilled technocrat - a person skilled in government matters - but he was also a mayor who ignored the citizens and their concerns. He knew better than we did what we needed, and he would simply deliver. He told friends he was not worried about a second term because Bellingham Mayors have always had second terms.
About a year ago, many of us began looking for a viable challenger to Pike. Barry Buchanan stepped forward. Barry officially filed a couple months ago - sort of forced to declare early when Pike filed. Barry is a fine City Council representative, a long time political player in community affairs and Democratic Party politics. We like him and respect his quiet way of seeking to understand issues and work with citizens. But his ability to win an election against the incumbent mayor has been a serious political question.
When Kelli files, we will have a candidate who will garner the support of all the liberal groups in the city - plus many in the more conservative business community. Kelli understands our community and how to work with people. She will probably get the support of Barry if she wins in the primary election, and she may get his support long before that.
Jack Louws is a person I know less about; perhaps one of the writers who know him better will fill us in. I do know Jack is respected for his intelligence and fairness. That alone is enough to give him an advantage over the goofball we have for County Executive now. Pete Kremen showed us the weasel he is at the "meeting" over the county jail planning last week. Disgust for him is running high now and we should not forget this come November. Hopefully, even he will realize he had fooled the people one time too many and will not run. Again, liberals and conservatives can back a viable candidate in Jack Louws.
Topic: Bellingham (1114)
We will have choices in November
Kelli Linville and Jack Louws are expected to file for Bellingham Mayor and Whatcom County Executive
Kelli Linville and Jack Louws are expected to file for Bellingham Mayor and Whatcom County Executive
About John Servais
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We will have choices in November
Kelli Linville and Jack Louws are expected to file for Bellingham Mayor and Whatcom County Executive
From The Political Junkie: Order of Invalidity Summary
Riley Sweeney compiles several local writings about the County Council breaking the law
Fireworks in Bellingham
Why a ban on fireworks in Bellingham is needed, and a look at the politics of the issue.
From a Political Junkie: All I want for 2011 is my two front teeth
Riley Sweeney talks about his 2011 Legislative Wish List
Yellow Light Timing
Yellow lights in Bellingham are observed and commented on, as Bellingham prepares for red light cameras.
Is Boulevard Park/Cornwall Landfill Overwater Walkway A Toxic Trail?
Wendy Harris writes about a multi million dollar planned city of Bellingham project.
Council passes Red Light Cameras 6 - 1
Seth Fleetwood was one vote against, saying this is an Orwellian notion.
Eric Hirst Resigns Greenways Committee
Eric explains his resignation from the Greenways Advisory Committee and lists his concerns.
WAFed’s best option: Accept City’s offer on Chuckanut Ridge
Why Washington Federal’s best option is to accept Bellingham’s offer to take Fairhaven Highlands off its hands
Open letter to Bellingham Planning Director Jeff Thomas re: Fairhaven Highlands application deadline
Updated Sun, Oct 31. An open letter to Bellingham Planning Director Jeff Thomas re: Fairhaven Highlands application deadline
Politics & Ice Water: Part 1 of ?
Politics is like a pool of ice water. When men jump in their balls shrivel up.
Cooperation no substitute for small libraries
A library card from any Whatcom County library can now be used at any library in the county
A letter to the Bellingham City Council
We ask why the EIS extension was given to the Chuckanut Ridge developers when the city is negotiating to buy the property.
City bumbles on Chuckanut Ridge extension
Bellingham Planning Department is giving quiet extensions to the Chuckanut Ridge developer - propping up the property value.
Public support saves Fairhaven Library
Library Trustees reversed themselves from last week and spared closing the Fairhaven library.
How to close a library
Yes, the city powers have decided to close the Fairhaven Library. Only strong citizen objections can change it.
Comments by Readers
Tip Johnson
Feb 10, 2011It’s true I supported Pike, and at some considerable cost. I jumped into the divide in our environmental community and promoted his campaign while alienating many former allies. I admit I was wrong. I believed him.
As a student of public policy for some forty years, I was thrilled when Pike personally promised me an independent scientific review of the potential for the Georgia-Pacific treatment lagoon to meet Bellingham’s future water treatment needs. He knew the Port had avoided studying these issues by gaming the SEPA process for their marina - even the DOE was on record in that regard. Instead, he presided over a deal with the Port that moved the lagoon from the EIS’s No-Action Alternative into the Preferred Alternative for final review, without reopening scoping of the project to allow these questions to be asked. More gaming the system.
This is an important issue for many reasons. The facility, at the bottom of the Whatcom Creek drainage, is ideally located to intercept sanitary wastewater from our most developing areas and could allow us to avoid pumping it all the way to Fairhaven where capacities are already marginal and huge expansion costs are anticipated. It is the only place that could accept industrial effluents from businesses that might provide living wage jobs. Without the lagoon, a large industrial water supply becomes useless, except perhaps for a turbine. Wrecking this facility for a marina will forever foreclose our ability to attract good jobs with the prospect of surplus water supply and treatment capacity. This is also the only place that effective stormwater treatment for our urbanized area can occur. It includes an existing outfall and mid-bay mixing zone that could truly protect the nearshore habitat. Pike knows the end-of-pipe systems currently contemplated to support development are known not to perform to standards and routinely fail. They will not protect the nearshore.
Pike has become a booster for Bellingham’s Billion Dollar Boondoggle. We can’t afford that. I have written about this previously http://www.nwcitizen.com/entry/poop-the-billion-dollar-boondoggle and am not the only pundit to notice how the public stands to get screwed. See “The Gristle” at http://www.cascadiaweekly.com/pdfs/issues/200929.pdf
We now have a new Port Director and Commission President I feel have the capacity to understand the value of these public resources. I will support a mayoral candidate that will commit to vigorously advocating a reasoned consideration of their potential.
Rick Anderson
Feb 10, 2011Likewise, all through his campaign Pike promised to conduct a “peer review” of the toxic waste cleanup plan at the waterfront site and waterway to insure that it was adequate and appropriate to the level of contamination. Never happened. A few months after the election when he appeared at the Samish Neighborhood annual meeting I inquired about the status of the “peer review”. He informed the audience that he had decided it wasn’t necessary because “staff” had assured him that the cleanup plans were adequate. I’m glad I didn’t vote for him.
As for Louws…..he just took a position with SSK Insurance in Lynden and that may be an indication that he doesn’t plan to run.
Doug Starcher
Feb 10, 2011Been an interesting string of comments at this blog;
http://kelliformayor.blogspot.com
David Stalheim
Feb 10, 2011Only in Bellingham do Democrats eat their own when it comes to politics. This community would be far better served if Kelli Linville ran for County Executive.
Jack Louws is a fine man with good leadership skills—but he is extremely conservative. Mayor Louws led the effort that thwarted a policy to protect 100,000 acres of agricultural land, the critical mass necessary to sustain this industry in Whatcom County. Louws is a major proponent of growth as vital to our community, rather than focusing on a sustainable economy and resources.
But I also speculate that Louws won’t run at this time. A year ago Louws was calling Kremen to get him to announce he wasn’t going to run so Louws could begin his candidacy. Kremen told me that he never planned to run but didn’t want to be a lame duck, so he wouldn’t make that commitment to Louws. They talked all the time, and the two came to agreement on the UGA for Lynden.
But I have a more wild theory about Kremen and Louws. Rumor has it that Kremen messed up on his retirement calculation and needs a couple more years of service to max out on his state retirement. A couple of years of Pete—then he resigns, and then the council appoints—Louws.
All it would take is a good candidate for County Executive to throw a wrench in it while also getting Whatcom back on track. So rather than Bellingham’s progressives tearing each other apart, we should be working to find a good candidate to run the county.
Todd Granger
Feb 11, 2011Democrats always eat their own, and it’s not just a hamster’s habit.
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.”
John Adams
John Servais
Feb 11, 2011If Jack Louws is not the right candidate then any group can organize and back someone else. The office is non-partisan. Yes, Progressives should seek out a candidate. It continues to amaze me how we remain so attached to the decisions of a very few political operatives at our local Democratic and Republican parties. They are allowed to give or hold back permission for someone to run for a non-partisan office. In truth, this is not necessary - as the election of Dan Pike showed.
We citizens have yet to understand the power we have separate from the Ds and Rs. We continue to feel bound to a very few partisan leaders. The idea that Kellie not run because it involves “eat their own” is just an absurd notion held over from ancient times of tribal warfare. Are we afraid to use our brains and think? The mayor’s office is non-partisan.
Dave - Kelli would have a hard fight for county executive and a much easier campaign for mayor. However, we could be surprised and she might consider that run for county executive.
I am also now hearing that Doug Ericksen is seriously looking at running for county executive. As a Progressive, I would rather have Louws. And I will vote for whoever is up against Kremen. Can someone name a possible progressive candidate?
g.h.kirsch
Feb 11, 2011Well, it sure wouldn’t be Linville, John.
John Servais
Feb 11, 2011Oh, I’ll support and vote for the replacement candidates for both offices. Regardless. We need to toss out those who betray our trust and try a new person. I would like a Progressive, but will support any viable challenger. Kellie is very very viable.
The best message we voters can send - if we could find a way to send a message - would be to say we will vote for the winners of the primary who challenge the incumbents. I will vote in November for whoever is up against Pike and Kremen. Give them a chance. Even if our politics don’t agree. Would I vote for Ericksen over Kremen? Yes. Hold my nose, but yes. Absolutely.
Lets encourage the best to run. There was a year when Tip Johnson could have won the office of mayor. He held back. And the Moose gave Asmundsen a close contest. I want to encourage the qualified persons to test themselves in the primary. And guarantee the winning challenger my vote.
John Servais
Feb 11, 2011Carl Weimer would make a great candidate for County Executive. He would be a Progressive one. And I think he could win. A primary with Carl, Pete, Doug and perhaps Jack would be a winning opportunity for Carl.
John Servais
Feb 11, 2011Dan Pike has finally - and suddenly - gotten the message. He sent out an email this morning to old friends. He has ignored listening to us citizens for three years, but is suddenly ready to listen. Here is the core of his email message.
“I am hoping to accomplish a few purposes with one email:
- obtain support from people who like the job I am doing;
- get information from each of you about concerns you have with regards to our community. These may be problems you think are not getting appropriate attention, issues getting attention, but which you want to ensure continue to get attention, or areas where you think attention is being given, but is in fact unwarranted;
- if you think I am not doing a good job in some aspect, I would love to hear from you what areas I am not handling well, and any suggestions for how to manage those problems more effectively for the community.”
His desperate email begs his old friends to not abandon him now. For me this is too late. He will shut us out again after the election. He has shown his colors.
Oh, and Dan - the fact you are trying to do all this with “one email” is the tell tale evidence that you do not get it. As our elected mayor you should have been asking for our suggestions for the past three years on a continuous basis. A “one email” effort is just so revealing. You just don’t get it. You don’t have time for us.
Dan, for a suggestion from a well informed citizen, read the first comment to this article. Tip posted it. Just scroll up - and you can get your answer. Easy as that.
David Stalheim
Feb 11, 2011John, what I am trying to convey is that Hamster’s are so obsessed with Bellingham that they neglect to focus on what is happening at the county level. Look at the voter drop off rate in Bellingham in this past council race. If all the Bellingham people had voted, the Melious race would have been much closer.
Meanwhile, consider what the county is doing that affects both Bellingham and our region’s quality of life. Last year they tried to shift the tax burden to cities while giving the rural areas a tax break. They tried to raid the fund approved by voters to conserve open space, agricultural lands and parks for future generations. They merged the urban areas of Bellingham and Ferndale into one sprawling mess. They support the shift of the retail tax base away from Bellingham to Ferndale. They support continued sprawl up the Guide, including the Caitac proposal. They spent $1 million of your money to study two sites for a jail without ever asking your opinion.
Bellingham needs to wake up and get back some sense of order in the county. I have worked for three counties and three cities, and hands down, the one that needs the most overhaul is our own county, and not our city.
If it comes down to Louws or Kremen, I, too, would go with Louws. Louws would not have let the fiasco of the jail process unfold like it did. He is much smarter and has better leadership skills than to allow that to happen. However, all of the other issues I mentioned above he would side with the current county council majority, I am quite sure of.
It really is time to get folks off their sleepy behind and put up a good candidate against Kremen and Crawford, and maybe Larson. But, instead, we’ll put all our energy into our own town and forget the consequences. Too bad.
Todd Granger
Feb 12, 2011John,
When exactly will these choices come from a younger generation, instead of the same old train wreck of Pete, Kelly, and Dan, or any other local example of the same old same old?
Who was that 24 year old Prime Minister?
He became the private secretary of the Right Honourable William Pitt, and was created ‘Baronet of Castle Bellingham on 19 April 1796. He was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and was “Receiver General of the Land and Assessed Taxes” of London.
Kirsh mentiones Pike’s Billion Dollar Boondoggle, a little tribal warfare is way past due! Sir William Bellingham would have had these tax and spend “progressives” walking the plank?
The Port missed the Boat too, as with the obvious, right in front of their nose, the deaf dumb and blind, free trade to a Canadian Coal Dock, headed to Korea and China and sleeping at the switch, of Warren Buffets new toy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17456491@N00/3431466361