Kathy Kershner is running for re-election to the Whatcom County Council representing District 4. Kershner is the former chair of the Whatcom County Republican Party, and has been a conservative voice on the council since she was elected in 2019.
Despite describing herself as a fiscal conservative, Kershner increased spending on prisons and policing, voting to add 10 new deputies to the sheriff's office and supporting the construction of a new, larger county jail. She also voted to continue public funding for Lighthouse Mission Ministries after they were accused of hiring discrimination against LGBTQ+ people because they required employees to adhere to traditional Christian tenets of faith and "sex ethics."
While Kershner is clearly conservative, she has been willing to work with the progressive majority on the council. In particular, she voted in favor of putting Proposition 5, the Whatcom County Children's Initiative, on the ballot.
Kershner's challengers are Mark Stremler and Katherine Orlowski. Stremler is Whatcom County public works employee who has been active with his union in recent months advocating for pay increases to keep up with the cost of living. In his own words, Stremler is "devoted to re-establishing the conservative values" and would be a step backwards for the council.
Orlowski is a recently-appointed member of the Child and Family Well-Being Task Force. In one of her first meetings, she expressed support for the Healthy Children's Fund and concern over the wellbeing of public school employees, but also supported an amendment by Kershner to explicitly remove COVID-19 vaccination requirements for a public fund. This is consistent with some of her other public comments expressing skepticism about the lifesaving power of vaccines.
While we disagree strongly with many of Kershner's policy positions, her willingness to work with her colleagues makes her the best choice to represent this very conservative district.
Kathy Kershner is running for re-election to the Whatcom County Council representing District 4. Kershner is the former chair of the Whatcom County Republican Party, and has been a conservative voice on the council since she was elected in 2019.
Despite describing herself as a fiscal conservative, Kershner increased spending on prisons and policing, voting to add 10 new deputies to the sheriff's office and supporting the construction of a new, larger county jail. She also voted to continue public funding for Lighthouse Mission Ministries after they were accused of hiring discrimination against LGBTQ+ people because they required employees to adhere to traditional Christian tenets of faith and "sex ethics."
While Kershner is clearly conservative, she has been willing to work with the progressive majority on the council. In particular, she voted in favor of putting Proposition 5, the Whatcom County Children's Initiative, on the ballot.
Kershner's challengers are Mark Stremler and Katherine Orlowski. Stremler is Whatcom County public works employee who has been active with his union in recent months advocating for pay increases to keep up with the cost of living. In his own words, Stremler is "devoted to re-establishing the conservative values" and would be a step backwards for the council.
Orlowski is a recently-appointed member of the Child and Family Well-Being Task Force. In one of her first meetings, she expressed support for the Healthy Children's Fund and concern over the wellbeing of public school employees, but also supported an amendment by Kershner to explicitly remove COVID-19 vaccination requirements for a public fund. This is consistent with some of her other public comments expressing skepticism about the lifesaving power of vaccines.
While we disagree strongly with many of Kershner's policy positions, her willingness to work with her colleagues makes her the best choice to represent this very conservative district.