In the previous post, we looked at Voting Suggestions for Whatcom County Council. We’ll have a brief review here as well, but let’s also consider the rest of the ballot for Bellingham and Whatcom County voters.
For those that consider themselves progressives, there are a few resources to look to for more information and endorsements. One is the Fuse Progressive Voters Guide. Another source is Whatcom Conservation Voters. They are a a non-partisan grassroots political organization that works in Whatcom County on environmental issues. They advocate for responsible growth, clean water, habitat conservation and many environmental causes. Washington Conservation Voters endorsements can be found here.
One more is The Political Junkie’s Voters Guide, by fellow blogger Riley Sweeney. With few exceptions, all of these guides named are supporting the same candidates and the same initiatives. It is Riley’s endorsements that I’ll review here in abbreviated form. All quotes below are from Riley Sweeney, unless otherwise noted (example: Whatcom Democrats). I agree with all of his choices, except for the last two.
Stuck on your ballot? Let Riley help!
State-Wide Measures
I-517: Vote No. “This is Tim Eyman’s latest initiative and as usual, it is a mediocre idea wrapped in a whole bucket of bad ideas…”
I-522: Vote Yes. “This would require most grocery items to display whether or not they had been genetically modified. Currently, Monsanto is spending $4.2 million in Washington state to block this measure.”
Advisory Votes: Riley published a whole article about this earlier in the week, so check it out for the details but the end result is the same. Vote “maintained” for all of these measures.
Whatcom County Council (Redux)
(See previous post for more detail on County Council)
“If you care deeply about stopping the coal terminal, this decision is easy. Do not vote for anyone who has taken money from the Coal industry.”
My comments: Check out Riley’s reporting on coal industry money coming to Council candidates in the link above, and check out the Herald article about even more coal industry money coming to the Save Whatcom PAC. Whatcom Democrats are urging citizens to contact the Attorney General and demand an investigation. They claim that disclosure laws were violated – that the donated money from SSA Marine, Cloud Peak Energy, Global Coal Sales, and others were deliberately hidden. A statement on the Whatcom Democrats website:
“With critical races in the balance, community leaders in Whatcom County are calling on the Washington State Attorney General to step in and make Saving Whatcom PAC and their big coal donors comply with the laws of Washington.
Washington state law requires the five largest donors to an advertisement to be printed on a piece of mail or television advertisement. They have set up two committees and transferred money between them, in an attempt to hide donor names from the public.”
– Whatcom Democrats
Vote for the candidates who have not accepted money from big coal: Buchanan, Browne, Mann, and Weimer.
Port of Bellingham
Commissioner District 1: Renata Kowalczyk. “She brings an outsider’s perspective which is desperately needed at the port, yet shares our values for what the port’s role is in our community. Her opponent, Dan Robbins, has done little this campaign other than repeat weird communist smears from the anonymous writers at the Whatcom Excavator and tout his failed businesses. The choice is clear, Vote Kowalczyk.”
Commissioner District 2: Mike McAuley. “For the last four years, Mike has been the lone voice of sanity on the Port Commission.”
Bellingham City Council
Council Ward 4: Pinky Vargas. “She is smart, an effective communicator but more importantly, would bring some vital self-awareness to the city council.”
Council At-Large: Roxanne Murphy. “While I appreciate Bob Burr’s activist spirit and desire to push complacent politicos out of their comfort zone, the City Council needs a steady hand and they will have one in Roxanne Murphy.”
Bellingham School District
Proposition 1: “Our schools are criminally underfunded. Walk into an school and you will see employees working two or three jobs to cover the budget cuts, improvements being delayed, technology that is decades old. We should be investing in our schools and this bond is a good start. Vote approved.“
Director Position 4: Steven Smith. “Wait a minute Riley, you endorsed John Blethen in the primary? What happened? Well, I met with Steven Smith and was blown away. This Western business professor moonlighting as school board member brings the right mix of compassion and technical skill to the school board. We talked at length about the need for, and challenges of, measuring emotional growth as part of a child’s educational experience. Quantifying our schools beyond SATs and dropout rates to see what is really happening with each cohort of learners. Smith is using his position on the board to build the tools so future board members can assess the progress we have made and where we need to grow.
While I respect Blethen a great deal, and encourage people to vote for him based on his long record of involvement, I am voting for Smith.”
My comments: I have quoted the entirety of Riley’s School District choices above, because these are the two items on the ballot that I disagree with, though I think Riley has made a good case for his decision. In my view of an integral permaculture future, we can’t expect business as usual to continue – honestly considered, we don’t have the money to spend on all the projects we’d like, and we have to start making some hard decisions. Schools are underfunded, but can we really afford to rebuild Sehome High School (my alma mater) at this time? And is closing Larrabee school the right choice, forcing more resources to go toward transporting students longer distances?
A statement taken from the Facebook page of the Coalition to Save Larrabee:
Not one dollar of the 220 million dollar school bond ($160 million principal + interest) will be spent to reduce classroom sizes, hire or adequately pay even one more teacher, fund enrichment programs, environmental learning, support neighborhood schools, STEM education, or the arts. As Democrats, when we are asked to support education we ask, “where do I sign?” But this time around we have to pay attention even if it is politically uncomfortable. Closing Larrabee Elementary School is the canary in the coal mind. The first sign that the Superintendent has a vision that is counter to our community’s vision. The Superintendent is marching us away from small classroom sizes, away from walkable neighborhood schools, and towards 10 million dollar district offices, bloated top administration budgets, and policies that reflect a belief that student learning will increase if teachers just work harder, accept less pay and benefits, volunteer more of their time, and sacrifice…
– Coalition to Save Larrabee
See also David Marshak’s article opposing Proposition 1 in the Oct. 8th Cascadia Weekly, reprinted here: “Rebuilding Sehome High School” Makes No Sense.
Please read John Blethen’s opinion piece at the Bellingham Herald: John Blethen Propose More Public Input; Attention to Bellingham Neighborhood Schools.
Research supports that small neighborhood schools are more effective academically and socially, especially for children living in low-income households, and encourage parent involvement. Neighborhood schools are essential for community building. It is imperative that the Bellingham School District aligns their school facilities planning process with the city of Bellingham to be in step with the Bellingham Comprehensive Plan, with public schools retained and new neighborhood schools located consistent with the city’s commitment to progressive urban smart-growth principles.
– John Blethen
integral permaculture 