Riley Sweeney’s Political Junkie has breaking news of Cathy Lehman of the Bellingham City Council planning to resign at the end of the year. This will leave a full year of her four year term unserved. Riley has the full scoop. And beats the Herald - again - with important local political news.

I can add this to what Riley has posted: Several of us political junkies have known that Cathy is bored silly as a council representative and did not plan to run again. I knew but had agreed - no doubt with others - to not post this information. But her resigning early is news to me. And will cause real political confusion in our city for the next 14 months.

On councils, power is perceived by staff and other council members to be held by those expected to be serving for years into the future, those who expect to be reelected to another term. Thus a lame duck representative, who has said this is their last term, or that they are resigning soon, has little influence on their fellow council members on issues before the council. And staff at city hall treat them like a ghost - hardly there. What’s to lose? Nothing. No, I’m not making this up. Council members have explained this to me.

We on NWCitizen will be exposing the council’s illegal Sunnyland plan changes of August 11. Cathy was very much a big factor in that decision as she loves putting big buildings anywhere in the city - residential ambience be damned. I learned that in taking her on a tour of Fairhaven during our planning process a couple years ago. With her seen as a strong future council member, and as president of the council now, her influence was major in the Sunnyland debacle. So, after she votes to violate city codes and hurt a neighborhood to the best of her power, she exits. Very poor form.

- John Servais