Final evolution of candidate listing
Final evolution of candidate listing
Counting Day for the General Election
6:30 pm
More ballots - for a total of 7,899 ballots returned today. We have at least a modest surge. The total returned is now 36,577 of 102,715 ballots
6:30 pm
More ballots - for a total of 7,899 ballots returned today. We have at least a modest surge. The total returned is now 36,577 of 102,715 ballots
Counting Day for the General Election
6:30 pm
More ballots - for a total of 7,899 ballots returned today. We have at least a modest surge. The total returned is now 36,577 of 102,715 ballots issued, for a 35.6% return to this time. These numbers were posted at 6:30 pm by the Auditor. And with this, I'm off to the gatherings and the courthouse.
4:30 pm
Ballot return numbers for today are in and only 4,096 returned today - so far. I've a report that the cars are literally lined up as drivers drop off ballots at the courthouse and Shirley has two clerks on the curbs taking the ballots. I am not sure if the returned ballots are the total delivered to the Auditor today or if that is the number of ballots processed. If it is the number returned then we may not make 40 % return.
9 am
Auditor's Election Results page - results will post shortly after 8 pm. The first are scheduled for 8:45 pm, but in the past Shirley sometimes is early - and she could be as late as 9 pm. There may be only one run this evening, with the second late Wednesday afternoon.
If we get a surge of ballots returned in the mail today - say 8,000 to 12,000 - , then we need to realize the Auditor's office can only process 2,000 to 4,000 per day. Wednesday will also have at least 4,000 ballots and so we will see dramatic new vote totals posted each day this week through Saturday. Yep, close races could go very undecided till Saturday.
If you read this website then you are probably a political junkie. And you probably know we have slowly lost, over the past 10 years, one of the most fun social events of the year - the gathering of political folks in the Rotunda of the Courthouse when the returns come out. I know some political campaign groups are planning to start parties at 6 & 7 pm tonight and then caravan to the courthouse about 8 pm. We will have more new elected officials tonight than we have had in years. Lets gather and give the winners a good cheer and applause.
In 1978 we passed our Home Rule Charter and created our current form of council and executive county government - and eliminated the old three commissioner junta. For the returns that night, I snuck a bottle of champagne into the old courthouse lobby and with the first results - showing a solid 55% approval - we pulled it out and popped the cork and others produced plastic cups and we spread the cheer around. The Herald even got the photo. We all had fun.
In those days the Auditor would come into the lobby and chalk the numbers onto a board. I'm waiting for an enterprising local video shop to setup a large - large - screen in the rotunda and post the numbers live. As it is, tonight you will get the numbers a minute sooner on the Auditor's Election website page than we will waiting in the Rotunda for Shirley to come out with her bundle of printouts.
1:00 am
Our Auditor, Shirley Forslof, lowered her estimate "closer to 48%" on Monday afternoon for voter turnout. Her estimate had been 55% which she made a week ago.
Final evolution of right column candidate listing, compiled between April and Nov 2007.
V - My endorsements below
Explained on Sat., Oct. 13
Bellingham
Mayor - takes office Nov 27
Dan McShane - on county council
V! - Dan Pike - experienced admin
Why Pike on Oct. 17 and Oct. 26 and Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Council - will see at least 3 new
1st Ward - Ryan not running
V - Jack Weiss - well qualified
3rd Ward - Watts not running
Barry Buchanan - well qualified
V-Larry Farr - very active in town
4th Ward - takes office Nov 27
Stan & Damon both good
V-Stan Snapp - former fire chief
Damon Gray - a fresh perspective
Why Stan on Oct. 25
5th Ward - Terry in 8 yrs
Terry Bornemann - broken promises
V! - Bill Geyer - former city planner
Why Geyer on Oct. 17
At Large - Louise in 20 yrs
V - Louise Bjornson - does her best
Michael Lilliquist - from Fairhaven
Why Louise on Oct. 24
School District Pos. 1
Ann Whitmyer - incumbent - no site
Michael Jay - every child concern
Pos. 3 - open seat
Kelly Bashaw
V - Emily Barnett Highleyman
Whatcom County
Executive - Pete in 12 years
Pete Kremen - arrogant. No site.
V - Lois Garlick - the gal has issues
Council - at least 1 new
1st Dist. - McShane not running
Bob Kelly - no site - not at forums??
V - Chris Hatch - responsive to all
Why Chris on Nov. 2.
2nd Dist. - Sam in 8 years
Sam Crawford - no site??
V - Ken Mann - chairs plan comm.
Hear Ken on KGMI - Thur. morn.
3rd Dist. - Barb Brenner
Treasurer - Corey not running
V - Steve Oliver - is asst. Treas.
Joe Elenbaas - no thanks, Joe
Auditor - Shirley Forslof
Assessor - Keith Willnauer
Sheriff - Bill Elfo
Port of Whatcom
Jim Jorgensen - in for 2nd term
Ferndale
Mayor
Jerry Landcastle - for re-election
Gary Jensen - challenger
6:30 pm
More ballots - for a total of 7,899 ballots returned today. We have at least a modest surge. The total returned is now 36,577 of 102,715 ballots issued, for a 35.6% return to this time. These numbers were posted at 6:30 pm by the Auditor. And with this, I'm off to the gatherings and the courthouse.
4:30 pm
Ballot return numbers for today are in and only 4,096 returned today - so far. I've a report that the cars are literally lined up as drivers drop off ballots at the courthouse and Shirley has two clerks on the curbs taking the ballots. I am not sure if the returned ballots are the total delivered to the Auditor today or if that is the number of ballots processed. If it is the number returned then we may not make 40 % return.
9 am
Auditor's Election Results page - results will post shortly after 8 pm. The first are scheduled for 8:45 pm, but in the past Shirley sometimes is early - and she could be as late as 9 pm. There may be only one run this evening, with the second late Wednesday afternoon.
If we get a surge of ballots returned in the mail today - say 8,000 to 12,000 - , then we need to realize the Auditor's office can only process 2,000 to 4,000 per day. Wednesday will also have at least 4,000 ballots and so we will see dramatic new vote totals posted each day this week through Saturday. Yep, close races could go very undecided till Saturday.
If you read this website then you are probably a political junkie. And you probably know we have slowly lost, over the past 10 years, one of the most fun social events of the year - the gathering of political folks in the Rotunda of the Courthouse when the returns come out. I know some political campaign groups are planning to start parties at 6 & 7 pm tonight and then caravan to the courthouse about 8 pm. We will have more new elected officials tonight than we have had in years. Lets gather and give the winners a good cheer and applause.
In 1978 we passed our Home Rule Charter and created our current form of council and executive county government - and eliminated the old three commissioner junta. For the returns that night, I snuck a bottle of champagne into the old courthouse lobby and with the first results - showing a solid 55% approval - we pulled it out and popped the cork and others produced plastic cups and we spread the cheer around. The Herald even got the photo. We all had fun.
In those days the Auditor would come into the lobby and chalk the numbers onto a board. I'm waiting for an enterprising local video shop to setup a large - large - screen in the rotunda and post the numbers live. As it is, tonight you will get the numbers a minute sooner on the Auditor's Election website page than we will waiting in the Rotunda for Shirley to come out with her bundle of printouts.
1:00 am
Our Auditor, Shirley Forslof, lowered her estimate "closer to 48%" on Monday afternoon for voter turnout. Her estimate had been 55% which she made a week ago.
Final evolution of right column candidate listing, compiled between April and Nov 2007.
V - My endorsements below
Explained on Sat., Oct. 13
Bellingham
Mayor - takes office Nov 27
Dan McShane - on county council
V! - Dan Pike - experienced admin
Why Pike on Oct. 17 and Oct. 26 and Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
Council - will see at least 3 new
1st Ward - Ryan not running
V - Jack Weiss - well qualified
3rd Ward - Watts not running
Barry Buchanan - well qualified
V-Larry Farr - very active in town
4th Ward - takes office Nov 27
Stan & Damon both good
V-Stan Snapp - former fire chief
Damon Gray - a fresh perspective
Why Stan on Oct. 25
5th Ward - Terry in 8 yrs
Terry Bornemann - broken promises
V! - Bill Geyer - former city planner
Why Geyer on Oct. 17
At Large - Louise in 20 yrs
V - Louise Bjornson - does her best
Michael Lilliquist - from Fairhaven
Why Louise on Oct. 24
School District Pos. 1
Ann Whitmyer - incumbent - no site
Michael Jay - every child concern
Pos. 3 - open seat
Kelly Bashaw
V - Emily Barnett Highleyman
Whatcom County
Executive - Pete in 12 years
Pete Kremen - arrogant. No site.
V - Lois Garlick - the gal has issues
Council - at least 1 new
1st Dist. - McShane not running
Bob Kelly - no site - not at forums??
V - Chris Hatch - responsive to all
Why Chris on Nov. 2.
2nd Dist. - Sam in 8 years
Sam Crawford - no site??
V - Ken Mann - chairs plan comm.
Hear Ken on KGMI - Thur. morn.
3rd Dist. - Barb Brenner
Treasurer - Corey not running
V - Steve Oliver - is asst. Treas.
Joe Elenbaas - no thanks, Joe
Auditor - Shirley Forslof
Assessor - Keith Willnauer
Sheriff - Bill Elfo
Port of Whatcom
Jim Jorgensen - in for 2nd term
Ferndale
Mayor
Jerry Landcastle - for re-election
Gary Jensen - challenger
