Orphalee Smith to run against Fleetwood
Orphalee Smith to run against Fleetwood
I’ve heard from trusted sources that Orphalee Smith will be filing as a write-in candidate for the At-Large Bellingham City Council position this week. As we all know, Seth Fleetwood is the on
I've heard from trusted sources that Orphalee Smith will be filing as a write-in candidate for the At-Large Bellingham City Council position this week. As we all know, Seth Fleetwood is the only candidate on the ballot for the job being left by Louise Bjornson. Now he will have some competition - albeit, a write in.
Orphalee has run for office before and been politically active for many years. She has supported other candidates and paid her dues. She ran for the At-Large position in 1993 against Louise and came within less than 2 percentage points of Louise. In eleven elections since 1987, that was the closest Louise ever came to losing.
For a write-in candidate, winning is next to impossible. Orphalee no doubt knows that. But she can raise issues and bring Seth's record from the County Council to public questioning. She can put Seth to the task of actually campaigning for office. She is strong on financial issues - just where Seth is not so strong. And our city certainly has financial problems just now.
We can all welcome Orphalee to the City Council race if only for the fact we need issues raised and debated. Gene Knutsen of the 2nd Ward and Stan Snapp of the 4th Ward are walking back into office with no opposition. The only race we have for the four council seats is the 6th Ward where two newcomers - Lilliquist and Chambers - will be strongly testing each other. It is good that a second seat will see some competition.
I look forward to Orphalee's campaign and hope she uses it to bring out some of the financial issues facing our city.
Orphalee has run for office before and been politically active for many years. She has supported other candidates and paid her dues. She ran for the At-Large position in 1993 against Louise and came within less than 2 percentage points of Louise. In eleven elections since 1987, that was the closest Louise ever came to losing.
For a write-in candidate, winning is next to impossible. Orphalee no doubt knows that. But she can raise issues and bring Seth's record from the County Council to public questioning. She can put Seth to the task of actually campaigning for office. She is strong on financial issues - just where Seth is not so strong. And our city certainly has financial problems just now.
We can all welcome Orphalee to the City Council race if only for the fact we need issues raised and debated. Gene Knutsen of the 2nd Ward and Stan Snapp of the 4th Ward are walking back into office with no opposition. The only race we have for the four council seats is the 6th Ward where two newcomers - Lilliquist and Chambers - will be strongly testing each other. It is good that a second seat will see some competition.
I look forward to Orphalee's campaign and hope she uses it to bring out some of the financial issues facing our city.
