Whatcom County Charter Review Commissioner, District 1 (south Bellingham)

Able to work across party lines, as shown by my collaboration with Republican County Council Member Kathy Kershner on the County Charter amendment prohibiting holding two elected offices at once, adopted with 84% support last year. I’m now doing the same on the Charter Review Commission.

Whatcom County Democrats Chair, 2019-2025

Organized campaign teams that flipped the County Executive, Prosecutor, Sheriff, all three state legislative seats in the 42nd LD, the Public Utility District, the Conservation District, and the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission into the Democratic column. 

Department of Justice (1994-2003) and Department of Homeland Security (2003-2014)

Twenty years’ service in the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security spanning three administrations (Clinton, Bush, Obama) as an appointed expert on human rights. 

City Council Member, Sanibel, Florida (1996-2000)

First openly gay elected official in Southwest Florida, where I persuaded a Republican-majority city council to expand Below Market Rate Housing, purchase environmentally sensitive lands, and adopt a model Dark Skies Ordinance. 

Public Policy Professional

With a graduate degree from the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, served as a senior fellow of the World Policy Institute, New York (1984-2009), widely published, expert witness at U.S. House and Senate committee hearings.

Fluent in Spanish from my work in Mexico and Central America on human rights and electoral reform

I applaud the city’s recent efforts for language inclusion and look forward to participating as a multilingual council member.