A few words are in order

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Wed, Sep 17, 2003, 2:14 pm  //  John Servais

It is humbling and most satisfying to see the voters choose for change in leadership at City Hall and the Port. For an incumbent to get less than 40% of the vote is a mandate for change. Ginny and Mark are getting less than 30%.

Ginny is gone. Her hopes for a better showing in the rest of the county are forlorn. If she cannot carry her district, she is out of there. Jim Jorgensen is an outstandingly qualified person for Port Commissioner. The other three candidates have already given their support to him. The powers that be behind Port politics have also quietly moved to back Jim. Ginny is out in the wind. Gone.

The mayor's race is different. Expect a lot of money to go into the general campaign. The conservatives - the BIA, the Republicans, the right side - have failed in every attempt to elect a mayor for over twenty years. This time they have a good candidate. And they have the support of many of us Independents, Libertarians and progressive Liberals. Foster may or may not support Brett, but those who voted for him will chose for themselves. Estimates from political operatives last night see 30% to 50% of Foster's votes going to Brett. Of course the vast majority of Russ Weston's supporters will vote for Brett. The feeling is even some of Sharon Crozier's votes will go to Brett. With that, we have a 50-50 race for mayor.

Even Terry Borneman is in trouble. If Sheri Ward wins the primary - and we may not know until Sep 26 - then Terry has a problem. Sheri is an activist who knows the issues and is supported by the very Liberals who supported Terry four years ago. Sheri can count on the conservative vote because she is a fiscal conservative. If Don Hansey wins the primary, then Terry can probably win. Don is way too far to the right for Bellingham. But - Terry has only 43% of the vote at this stage in the counting. For a Liberal incumbent from the Liberal 5th Ward of Bellingham, that says voters do not approve of his first four years. The rest of Bellingham is not as Liberal. With a good opponent, he will be turned out of office.
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Election Forums

Tue, Sep 30, 2003, 4:55 pm  //  John Servais

The first of three Bellingham Herald Election Forums is taking place this evening at the County Council chambers.The forums are being broadcast live on KGMI radio, 790 AM.…

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News censorship is not some obscure conspiracy theory

Mon, Sep 29, 2003, 7:00 pm  //  John Servais

Indeed, I watched CBS news and they have the story now. (see 3 pm below) Still nada at the CNN and FOXnews websites. A search shows nothing. Novak…

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Specializing in German vehicles.

US soldiers would never do things like that

Mon, Sep 29, 2003, 1:32 pm  //  John Servais

How many war prisoners is the USA holding? 6,000? A new website is trying to track all the foreigners the USA is holding in secret prisons or not…

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It is probably Brett’s to lose

Fri, Sep 26, 2003, 1:17 pm  //  John Servais

All week I'm hearing from political pros how Mark will still beat Brett for mayor. Mark is too smooth, they say. Mark knows what to say in every…

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Taking care of our own—NOT!

Thu, Sep 25, 2003, 1:21 pm  //  John Servais

Did you know that US soldiers who get wounded in Iraq and are hospitalized in military hospitals - for amputation of their foot or other treatment - are…

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I would sure welcome some company online

Tue, Sep 23, 2003, 1:50 pm  //  John Servais

The look of this home page has changed today. The flag is larger and now fits official flag specs. My thanks to Conrad Suckow for this. While it…

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The Auditor counted all but the last

Tue, Sep 23, 2003, 1:27 pm  //  John Servais

25 ballots today. In the only close race, Don Hansey has firmly out-polled Sheri Ward. Given how the Herald viewed the big absentee count on Friday afternoon, we…

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Decreasing the ‘bull’ factor

Mon, Sep 22, 2003, 1:45 pm  //  John Servais

The dates of the Lunch Time Soapbox Forums schedule has been adjusted. It will now start on Wednesday, October 8, instead of the 1st as originally posted. The…

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Conclusive election results are now in

Fri, Sep 19, 2003, 2:40 pm  //  John Servais

Don Hansey has out-polled Sheri Ward and will face Terry Borneman for city council representative from the 5th Ward. Terry polled only 44% and probably faces a stiff…

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Insist on the truth about war casualties

Fri, Sep 19, 2003, 10:00 am  //  John Servais

Were 8 US soldiers killed yesterday, besides the 3 being reported? We may not learn for days, weeks or months. As casualties mount, the US military appears to…

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Some comments on national issues

Thu, Sep 18, 2003, 2:02 pm  //  John Servais

Foreign Internet news sites are reporting 8 US soldiers killed in Iraq today. Nothing at the CNN, Fox and MSNBC websites. These reports are three hours old. What…

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A few words are in order

Wed, Sep 17, 2003, 2:14 pm  //  John Servais

It is humbling and most satisfying to see the voters choose for change in leadership at City Hall and the Port. For an incumbent to get less than…

0 comments

Internet election results: It’s just a fad

Tue, Sep 16, 2003, 2:17 pm  //  John Servais

The Auditor will post election results in almost-real time this evening. First post should be about 8:15, and because of the very few races the evening count may…

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Can this website influence the elections?

Mon, Sep 15, 2003, 2:23 pm  //  John Servais

I doubt it. Most visitors are political experts - elected, bureaucrats, reporters or junkies - and have their own candidates to support. Few casual citizens even know of…

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Facing the abyss

Fri, Sep 05, 2003, 2:33 pm  //  John Servais

So now the US is crawling to the UN asking for help in Iraq. And asking France and Germany to help. George W and his Neo-conservatives are facing…

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Growing up Whatcom

Thu, Sep 04, 2003, 2:36 pm  //  John Servais

A new political pressure group is organizing to try and slow the growth of Whatcom County and Bellingham. Pro-Whatcom claims to be a diverse grassroots group of citizens…

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So - what polite word can we use?

Wed, Sep 03, 2003, 2:41 pm  //  John Servais

Phone outage in Whatcom County, Bellingham and much of Skagit County since 7:45 am this morning according to news reports. KGMI is on top of this and the…

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Why things go so wrong for us good guys

Mon, Sep 01, 2003, 2:43 pm  //  John Servais

AlJazeera's English language website has finally opened. This is the Arab news site that scooped the US news media on a weekly basis during the war last spring.…

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