Whatcom County

Barry Buchanan is running for a fourth term on the Whatcom County Council. Buchanan is a Navy veteran and lifelong community leader who has been a consistent voice for progress on the county council since joining in 2014. Before that, he spent a term on the Bellingham City Council. Buchanan has previously worked in engineering and as a small business entrepreneur in workforce technical training.

On the council, Buchanan has pursued bold action such as preventing the expansion of local fossil fuel infrastructure, finding alternatives to a costly new jail, banning local fracking, and establishing the Healthy Children’s Fund. In this race, he is prioritizing addressing the affordability crisis while ensuring that local government works efficiently and responsively toward local solutions. Some of his goals for another term include developing alternative crisis response options to law enforcement, advocating for social equity and environmental protections, and expanding affordable housing options in the county.

Buchanan’s leadership is guided by his belief in the “right to thrive” for all Whatcom County residents. We recommend Barry Buchanan for another term in the At-Large seat on the Whatcom County Council.

Whatcom County Council Chair Kaylee Galloway is running for a second term serving District 1. She has a diverse background in public service, including previous positions as a community liaison for both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, as well as a legislative assistant in Congress. Galloway serves as a member of the Climate Impact Advisory Committee and previously as a member of the Community Development Advisory Board.

Galloway is running to continue her work advocating for affordable housing, climate justice, community safety, and social inclusion. She is a member of the Whatcom Racial Equity Commission and wants to support local policy to ensure that our county is a welcoming place for all. She supports reproductive freedom, climate-friendly infrastructure, workers' rights, criminal justice reform, and incentivizing affordable housing development. Galloway is an environmental leader on the council, including successfully passing an ordinance to protect chinook salmon, supporting the Nooksack water rights adjudication, and building a phosphorus-neutral development code. She has strong community support, including from local tribes, our partner organizations, and progressive elected leaders.

Kaylee Galloway has earned your vote for another term on the Whatcom County Council representing District 1.

Jessica Rienstra is running for Whatcom County Council, District 3. Rienstra ran successfully for the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission in 2024 and currently serves on the commission.

Her current campaign was inspired by the 2021 Nooksack flood, after she spent weeks helping her community recover from the wreckage. Due to this experience, Rienstra is prioritizing connectivity and infrastructure to not only strengthen her community but to promote emergency preparedness. She is also prioritizing diverse perspectives and equitable service. While her campaign website lacks specific policies she would support or implement, she demonstrates progressive priorities and values.

Rienstra has earned impressive early support from local progressive leaders and organizations. Jessica Rienstra is the best choice for Whatcom County Council, District 3.

Michael Shepard is running unopposed for re-election to the Port of Bellingham Commissioner District 1 seat, a position he has held since 2018. Shepard is a cultural and environmental scholar who has taught at Goucher College, Western Washington University, and Mohave Community College. Locally, he serves as a trustee of the Kulshan Community Land Trust and has worked with the Whatcom County Homeless Strategies Workgroup and the Small Cities Partnership.

On the port commission, Shepard has been a voice for balancing environmental and community needs in economic decision-making. He has yet to release a specific campaign platform in this race as of late-September, but in the past, he has supported ideas like investing in renewable energy, expanding broadband access, and revitalizing the waterfront.

We recommend Shepard for re-election to the Port of Bellingham to continue his progressive leadership for the region.

Carly James is challenging incumbent Ken Bell for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2. James is the co-owner of Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress and owns Gold Ink, an accounting and consulting firm.

While James' platform is limited, her campaign is prioritizing entrepreneurship, protecting the shoreline and marine trades, and expanding public access to parks, trails, and community spaces. As a small business owner, she experienced firsthand the challenges of the port and wants to do more to drive economic growth in the area.

Although we would like to see her campaign include more specific policy proposals, we lean towards voting for Carly James for Bellingham Port Commissioner, District 2.

Jace Cotton is running for re-election to the Bellingham City Council, At-Large position. He was first elected in 2023 to fill out the remainder of Kristina Michele Martens’ term when she ran for mayor. Cotton has a long track record of progressive leadership, having managed campaigns for Whatcom Democrats, Yes for Whatcom Kids, and Community First Whatcom. Through this work, he helped pass the Healthy Children’s Fund, a voter-approved initiative that secured historic funding to ensure that all Whatcom children have access to healthy, resourced starts and bright futures.

In his first year on the council, Cotton has been a voice for local progress in improving life in Bellingham for all residents. He supported a parking policy that would improve walkability and reduce congestion. Cotton wants to address the rising cost of living and supports raises to local wages, affordable housing prices, and renters’ protections. His re-election campaign priorities remain the same, focusing on affordable housing, tenant protections, and increasing the minimum wage to keep up with the cost of living.

We recommend re-electing Jace Cotton to serve another term on the Bellingham City Council, At-Large.

Board president Jenn Mason is running for another term on the Bellingham School Board in Director Position 4. Mason has served on the board of directors since 2017 and is both a district parent and a former educator, having previously worked as a counselor. She is also a certified sex educator and local business owner.

Mason is a progressive leader on the school board who has offered commonsense, holistic solutions for students, families, and district staff. She received conservative backlash after one of the local schools read a nationally renowned children’s book about a trans child. Mason is unafraid to defend inclusive curricula, welcoming school communities, and support for marginalized students to reduce systemic educational gaps.

Her re-election campaign continues to prioritize the success and safety of all students, particularly children of marginalized backgrounds. Her priorities include combating misinformation through digital literacy programs, securing funding for supportive services, and expanding post-graduation options.

Jenn Mason continues to offer impressive leadership for students in the Bellingham School District. We highly recommend re-electing Mason for another term on the Bellingham School Board.