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Recommendations: Whatcom County Council Appointment

Pants Peeps!  Six days until the Whatcom County Council appoints a seventh member. Tomorrow they will meet to decide how to decide (robust process is a remarkably important component).  Now is the time to call or write our council members and enumerate the virtues of the strongest applicants.  We hope to make it easy for YOU to engage in this process.

Over the holiday, our Riveters + Represent! committee spent more hours than we wanted to count developing questions for applicants, mapping those questions to planks in the 2018 RC platform, and reading responses and application materials from the 10 applicants who sought our recommendation.  Below, we’ll tell you why these three people earned our recommendation for this position.  Recommendations are based on responses to our questionnaire, other application materials, as well as applicants’ track records of experience and leadership.  

While we are recommending three people for this appointment, there were more great people in the applicant pool; we look forward to working with and electing them in the future!  You can read responses from all applicants who sought our recommendation here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1leliPhERyqUbyDMPGV3Y0JOKiBQF83NR?usp=sharing

R+R! Committee members participating in this recommendation include:
Adrienne Renz
Anne Marie Faiola
Arlene Feld
Elizabeth Darrow
Elizabeth Hartsoch
Eowyn Savela
Jenn Mason
Jesse Kirkpatrick
Karlee Deatherage
Liana Herron
Lisa McShane
Loretta Sheldon
Stephen Jackson

We recommend the following three applicants for appointment to the Whatcom County Council.  Each of these three applicants offers a new perspective for our council.

Timothy Ballew II

  • Demonstrated track record of coalition building and visionary leadership
  • Extensive and relevant experience working with stakeholders on water quality and treaty rights.
  • Working knowledge of water quantity,water rights and property rights issues
  • Tribal representation on our county council
  • Life-long Whatcom County resident, now raising his own family in the Lummi Nation community.
  • Future focused with familiarity on key issues facing Whatcom county at this time and into the future

For a more detailed outline of Timothy Ballew’s perspective you can read his full questionnaire response here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwW1mFP30AoAcFNxQjFaa0JCS1QyQnZZMUxMX2twazRzeWJB/view?usp=sharing

Carol Frazey

  • Understands the value of open space and parks as economic drivers; she even owns a recreation business
  • Offered detailed ideas for farm stewardship, informed by her background on a family farm
  • Commitment to protecting clean drinking water.
  • Recognizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration to solve complex problems
  • Future focused with familiarity on key issues facing Whatcom county at this time and into the future

For a more detailed outline of Carol Frazey’s perspective you can read her full questionnaire response here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwW1mFP30AoAT21nWGl5bV83VGI4TTQ3VXU1b1h3QWRrMmFn/view?usp=sharing

Alicia Rule

  • In-depth understanding of issues related to our jail and incarceration
  • Values the sovereignty of local Treaty Tribes and is interested in centering their leadership
  • Future focused with familiarity on key issues facing Whatcom county at this time and into the future
  • Understands the economic value that preserved recreation lands can bring to Whatcom County
  • Recognizes the importance of cross-sector collaboration to solve complex problems

For a more detailed outline of Alicia Rule’s perspective you can read her full questionnaire response here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13IhqZkbrA-t13VDrA3MftPUTfCiKI6Tx/view?usp=sharing 

Suggested script/email to council

Use council@co.whatcom.wa.us to reach all councilmembers.  Or, reach out individually:

 

Subject: Council appointment recommendation

Hello, my name is {your name} and I am a constituent residing in {location}.  With twenty-nine applicants for the open council seat, I appreciate the challenge in evaluating and choosing among people with diverse qualifications.  I think {applicant name} is the strongest choice for this appointment.  {Applicant name} {reasons why they will be great}.

Sincerely,
{your name}