Port of Bellingham Primary August 18
The Primary Election for the Port of Bellingham is August 18th. Two Port Commissioners – Doug Smith and Scott Walker – are up for reelection as discussed in an earlier blog post.
The Port operates the Bellingham Airport, the marinas in Blaine and Bellingham, and is the owner of the majority of the old GP site, which is slated for redevelopment. The Port of Bellingham also receives a portion of all property taxes levied in Whatcom County.
Redevelopment of the Bellingham waterfront is one of the largest brownfield redevelopment projects in North America. The direction the Port takes with regard to this redevelopment will have long lasting ramifications for our community. Thus, this year’s Port Commissioner Elections could not come at a more critical time for Bellingham and Whatcom County.
John Blethen, who is running against Scott Walker in District 1, will bring a practical and reasoned approach to waterfront redevelopment as well as economic development in Whatcom County. John has a history of waterfront involvement and is a longtime local business owner with a great deal of experience and knowledge to offer in regard to waterfront redevelopment and economic development countywide.
Both Doug Karlberg and Michael McAuley, who are running against Dough Smith in District 2, would be good replacements for Smith. Each would bring much needed fresh ideas and critical thinking to this position. Doug Karlberg is a commercial fisherman who understands the need for a working waterfront and for a sustainable economy. Mike McAuley is a neighborhood activist who will bring energy and intelligence to this position.
The culture of the Port has long been one of lack of transparency and lack of responsiveness to economic changes in Whatcom County. New commissioners are needed to bring accountability to the Port and fresh ideas for waterfront redevelopment.