I support Whidbee.

I also read during 2020 that the other candidate endorsed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (movie star/ex-pro wrestler) for president. What serious person would do such a thing while our very democracy is under relentless attack? 

Ray,

Can you enlighten our readers who might not be familiar with the personage named The Rock?

Dick,

You don’t know who Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is?  😊    😊

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson

I like and respect Dwayne Johnson, by the way.

I’ve met with Russ and he definitely has all of the experience and qualifications necessary to best represent the residents of Bellingham.  He’s a welcome voice for the moderates in the party. 

I like watching “The Rock” on television and the big screen, but I wouldn’t want him as the POTUS. 

Michael,

Notwithstanding my ingorance of current cultural icons and if there is going to be any Rock around these parts, I think you will agree that Rock will be Russ Whidbee who has stood firm in his dedication to the welfare of Bellingham’s residents for decades.  We need his voice and presence on the council. 

I have voted for Russ Whidbee before and plan to do so again. Thank you for the article, Dick.

I see that all politics are local, and if we get it right locally - especially at this critical juncture in American society and national politics - we’ll generate scalable solutions.

Whidbee is a grass roots public servant - a 40-year local resident, professional, teacher, and community volunteer. As a black man having arrived here in the 70’s, he is a true pioneer with extraordinary life skills. We don’t need to fact check his credentials - he’s been here contributing to Bellingham for decades.

Whidbee is running for Bellingham City Council  with a commitment to pragmatic, inclusive solutions and a track record of the same. Honesty, transparency, humility, and authenticity - check, check, check, and check.

Great article Dick. However, Russ has not weighed in on critical issues like the Digital Divide and fiber infrastructure. He seems to be drinking the same anti-worker Kool-Aid as Lilliquist and Satpal in this regard. There will be no bright future for marginalized people in Bellingham and Whatcom County without modren, affordable, infrastructure leading to better jobs, telehealth and more. 

Russ absolutely supports a “Dig Once” policy. From a fiduciary responsibility standpoint, Russ understands this arguably better than any other previous city council member seeking election. Russ also believes in the value of fiber infrastructure as a public utility. The previous comment alluding that Russ is in some anti-worker stance is without basis. Campaigns can’t weigh in on everything upfront, however anytime this issue has been raised Russ has weighed in on the side of public fiber and public broadband as a municipal utility. I know because I have personally had this conversation with Russ multiple times. I know that Russ sees the value in this as an accountant. Russ also understands that this can have true bottom line value (red/black) not just as a virtue signal in a triple bottom line consideration. Russ is the only candidate in this race that is actually a union member (and by choice in the normally less than union supportive industry of finance). Russ is the only candidate in this race that works in a fiduciary capacity. Russ is the only candidate in recent political history to be an accountant and bring that real and needed skillset to elected city leadership. Frankly, in my opinion, Russ is the only real candidate in this race!

Thanks Todd. Not supporting public broadband, including not just Dig Once but Open Access and a municipal option, are anti-worker. It would have been nice if Russ met with an expert on this topic but I am glad he mostly gets it. I support unions, but involvement in a union does not mean one supports workers. We have heard this all before from council members who ultimately screwed workers over time and time again but said unions supported them when running.

Jon,

I also contacted our council member Lisa Anderson who told me, ” Russ works in education and fully realizes our infrastructure is inadequate for the learning environment and business needs for our community now and in the future. He values high speed and affordable  Internet and whichever is the best pathway to achieve that he would be supportive. [I have] had several conversations with Russ about the importance of public fiber- whether through the city or partnership with the PUD and ... ‘he gets it’.”

Dick

Dick, what does the opinion of a council member matter? This council supported a corrupt public works director that produced a telecom riddled Broadband Advisory Group and sat by while Lilliquist and Johnston drafted a fake conduit ordinance to confuse voters with. All of which I’ve written about before. The details matter. Most recently Johnston and the BAG tasked their consultant with conducting the most inaccurate testing possible of a few connection in Bellingham to give us the least accurate results possible and lie of behalf of the telecoms. Russ needs to understand some of the basics. Otherwise Johnston will maneuver him into giving Comcast full control of the right of way installations and call it a “Dig Once” policy which it will be in name only. Corporate welfare for Comcast Policy would be more accurate. Comcast is already pushing for it on the BAG. BAG members have told me that Comcast and Johnston have made it clear that they own our town and will control whatever happens in the right of way and that no one better screw with them on it or they will turn off all of their connections. It is a hostage situation but the treasure they’re connected is obsolete garbage. Was Russ aware of any of this? Does he know DSL from Coax from satellite from wireless from fiber? Is he aware that Johnston and Lilliquist are so dirty they write fake policies to protect big telecom? Will he stand up to anti-first amendment companies that threaten his community? Will he stand up to corrupt staff that do the same?