These are my personal recommendations. They have been posted earlier, but am posting again today - as many are filling in their ballots - and this may help my candidates just a bit more. I've been deeply involved in local politics since 1978 and worked on my first local campaign for Paul Roley in 1970. The Port is my special area of interest because it has so much potential to help our community - and has so long been the fief of the friends of the commissioners. Never in 30 years have we had such an opportunity to reform the Port and turn it towards helping all businesses in Whatcom County. Let us use this chance and vote in two new commissioners. If the challengers get high votes in this primary then they will be able to raise money and support to win in November. With few votes then they will struggle. Lets give the challengers our votes.

You can only vote for one candidate for Port. The Districts 1 and 2 are the same as the County Council districts. Thus your ballot will show either Dist No. 1 or Dist No. 2 - or none if you are in the 3rd disttict. All four challengers are good choices. Choose the one you like.

Port of Bellingham
Commissioner Dist No. 1

John Blethen - yes, vote for him - he will bring reform and open process
Ham Hayes - yes, vote for him. Ham is my choice.
Scott L. Walker - no - lets end 18 years of favoritism for his friends

Port of Bellingham
Commissioner Dist No. 2

Mike McAuley - yes, vote for him - he will bring reform and open process
Doug Karlberg - yes, vote for him. Doug is my choice.
Douglas G Smith - no - lets end 16 years of feathering his own nest

All voters in all 3 county council districts vote for a council candidate. I'm liberal and a tree hugger - but am appalled at Laurie's habit of being impractical and wasting our tax dollars on useless projects. Dave Pros is intelligent, has a very practical outlook and has years of experience on the county planning commission. Dave would be the best common choice between conservatives and liberals.

Whatcom County
County Council At-Large

Bill Knutzen - well qualified - but has not voted locally in 15 years. Up to you.
Dave Pros - yes, vote for him - well qualified. Dave is my choice.
Laurie Caskey-Schreiber - no - aloof from realities of her decisions.

Bellingham voters on the southside vote in the city council race. Catherine has years of community involvement and knows the issues. She is smart and, if elected, will be the only woman on the council. I think that is important. Christopher is a smart business person but he has more focus on downtown than on the south side. Lilliquist ignored his community till he got a burr in his pants two years ago. Now he pretends to be a long time activist. I have seen him show very anti-business attitudes. I don't trust him.

City of Bellingham
Council Ward 6

Catherine Chanbers - yes, vote for her. Catherine is my choice.
Christopher Morrison - yes, vote for him. Well qualified.
Michael Lilliquist - no - has little to no grasp of issues

Blaine, Ferndale and Lynden also have primaries, but no guidance from here.

Just for the record, I'm predicting a 30% turnout. The rural county areas are very concerned with this election and I think they will boost the total well above the Auditor's estimate of 27%.