Other Issues

Prioritize local businesses. They create most new jobs, provide a stronger tax base, support community nonprofits, and reduce environmental impacts through local purchases and neighborhood proximity.

Fast and easy permitting for small businesses. We can streamline and even allow by-right approvals for projects that meet community standards—eliminating unnecessary and costly delays.

Prioritize hiring local workers. Workers like construction, industrial, teaching, nursing, caregiving, and service/retail employees form the backbone of our economy.

Invest tax funds locally wherever possible, boosting local businesses and jobs.

Consider reallocating city funds from national commercial banks, which finance fossil fuel companies, to local nonprofit credit unions such as WECU, to boost local employment and community investment.

Adopt pre-approved home designs, enabling local manufactured housing businesses to supply the need with quick turnaround times.

The single biggest action we can take to lower emissions is combat sprawl with infill housing that reduces dependence on asphalt and automobiles and builds mixed use walkable neighborhoods.

We must shift from fossil fuel to electricity. The incumbent wrote “As chair of the WTA board of directors, I paved the way to zero-emission buses that are now joining the fleet.” Not exactly. He voted for 8 new diesel buses. Only after opposition by Whatcom Democrats led Rep. Larsen to “question the decision in a May 10 letter to WTA board chairman Michael Lilliquist,” did he reverse course.

Adopt stronger measures to reduce plastic. Plastic comes from fossil fuel and eventually ends up as greenhouse gases. Microplastics harm wildlife and human health. We are facing a 53% increase in “recycling fees” even though well over 90% of plastic ends up in landfill. We should stop the false pretense of “plastic recycling” promoted by manufacturers.

Expand tree cover, prioritizing neighborhoods that need it most.

Clean up Bellingham Bay waterfront and expand public access.

Stagnating water quality indicators mean we must step up land acquisition and restrictions on development in the Lake Whatcom watershed.

Adopt an outdoor lighting ordinance to curb light pollution and glare and reduce energy waste.

I live my values. I’ve never owned a motor vehicle. My wildlife photography promotes appreciation of the natural communities we must preserve.

Support proven crime deterrents:

Visible community policing, such as Mayor Lund’s resumed bicycle patrols and assignment of public works personnel to keep downtown safe and welcoming.

Certainty of being caught, which is again linked to a visible police presence.

Certainty of facing accountability, which includes both traditional prosecution and diversion programs for low-level offenses. According to the US Department of Justice, the certainty of consequences, more so than their severity, reduces crime.

Improving police, fire, and EMS response times. Infill housing reduces travel distances while increasing tax receipts to invest in additional personnel, equipment, and infrastructure.

Community engagement through public cooperation that builds trust and transparency with law enforcement.

Fair and impartial policing by all law enforcement agencies, including equal access to legal resources.

Long-term safety strategies, including stable housing for the homeless and zoning adjustments to deconcentrate poverty.

Support all workers in their efforts to achieve family wages and benefits.

Build workforce housing close to work, including all residential areas.

Prioritize local hire. Facilitate affordable childcare.

Enforce laws against wage theft and misclassification of workers as independent contractors.

Stand with struggling workers. I joined Macy’s, Alaska ferry, Peacehealth, Starbucks, and REI Co-op, and WWU academic workers on picket lines. As Whatcom Democrats Chair, presented resolutions to REI Co-op management and Western Washington University trustees on behalf of retail and academic workers.  I’m endorsed by UFCW 3000, IBEW 191, CWA 37083.

Through Community First Whatcom I proposed the initiative that raised the Bellingham minimum wage by $2 over the state minimum wage. That is providing our lowest paid workers an extra $4,000 a year to pay rent and other basic expenses. It also helps workers earning slightly above minimum wage, since employers often raise their pay as well in order to keep a fair gap between wage levels.

Multimodal. Getting around the city without a car must be as easy, convenient, and safe as driving.

Expand walking and rolling infrastructure that is safe and desirable to use.

Vision Zero. Everyone deserves to get home safely. Vision Zero is about making that a reality—using smart street design to prevent deadly crashes. We must save lives of motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, people with disabilities.

Explore making WTA fare-free. Revenue from fare collection is balanced by cost of collection. Eliminating fares would reduce time spent at each stop and reduce travel time. Nearby Island Transit, Jefferson Transit, Clallam Transit, Mason Transit, and Intercity Transit in Olympia and Thurston County are already fare-free. I’m endorsed by the Transit Riders Union.

Partner with the Port of Bellingham to explore establishing a foot ferry to the San Juan Islands.

Lobby for more frequent and dependable Cascades service in the near term, and high-speed rail in the longer term.

Honor treaty obligations and enhance consultation and collaboration with Lummi Nation and Nooksack Tribe.

Adopt Ranked Choice Voting in city elections. I’m endorsed by FairVote WA.

I support a city charter amendment for a three consecutive term (12 year) limit for elected city offices. This in no way precludes running for a different position, and even later running for the same position.

I also support direct public access to the ballot. City charter amendments I drafted in 2001 lowered signature requirements for initiatives and for city charter amendments directly from the public.

Whatcom County: Wrote county charter amendments that reduced the number of signatures required for initiatives (2021) and prohibited holding two elected offices at once (2024). Another charter amendment on this year’s ballot would reduce the number of signatures required for charter amendments from the public (there has never been a charter amendment from the public because the current requirement is too high).