Whatcom County

Maya Morales, (she/they), is also running for Whatcom County Council, District 2. Morales was elected as one of three Whatcom County Charter Review Commissioners representing District 2 in 2024. She also works as a progressive organizer and legislative advocate who helped to pass the 2023 My Health My Data Act, which protects patient data for all Washingtonians.

Morales is a leader in protecting civil liberties in our county and state. She founded the WA People’s Privacy in 2021, defeated a Big Tech data anti-privacy bill, and worked with People First Bellingham to bring progressive initiatives to the 2021 ballot. She has a clear people-first agenda to ensure all Whatcom voices are heard in county leadership, and if elected, she would become the first openly lesbian and first Latina elected leader in the district.

In our interview, Morales discussed their justice-focused approach to public service, rather than separating policy issues into distinct areas. She recognizes the intersectionality of the issues facing Whatcom County and offered an intertwined and thoughtful approach to housing, health, and labor justice. Some of her solutions include improved public transit services, no-barrier assistance for those experiencing homelessness and addiction, and fair living wages.

On the County Charter Review Commission, Morales’ priorities included a county-level bill of rights and ranked choice voting. She aims to leverage her years of progressive leadership on the county council to ensure that local government is representative, effective, and responsive to the community.

Morales is a good choice for voters looking for a very progressive, outspoken advocate on the Whatcom County Council.

Epidemiologist and public health professional Leah Wainman is challenging incumbent Huthman for the Bellingham City Council from Ward 2. Wainman currently works for the Washington State Department of Health as an Equity and Health Assessment Manager. Her public health work is informed by an equity and social justice lens. She serves on the advisory boards of Whatcom County Public Health and the Whatcom County Dispute Resolution Center. She also consults with the Chuckanut Foundation’s New Data Equity & Analytics Lab.

Wainman's professional focuses on public health, environmental justice, social equity, and public service clearly inform her campaign priorities. After moving out of the downtown neighborhood, she started to experience some of the inequities in accessibility to resources throughout the city. In our interview, she noted that the placement of the tiny home village in her neighborhood left residents without access to a grocery store and other necessities, further deepening inequities in the community. She hopes to utilize her professional background as an epidemiologist to advocate for health and safety measures, including improved transportation options, tenant protections, and sustainable solutions that minimize the impact of climate change.

In our interview, Wainman expressed disappointment with the current council's steps, or lack thereof, towards improving the affordable housing supply in Bellingham. Although there has been a push to develop low-income housing options, there remains a lack of middle-income housing that serves as a stepping stone for young adults and families. In response, she proposed greater support for land trusts and cooperatively owned housing in Bellingham, as well as greater mortgage assistance for middle-income households. While we appreciated her perspective and passion for the issue, the policies she supports would not adequately address the scale of Bellingham's severe housing shortage that has developed over decades.

Wainman's care for and thorough understanding of the issues facing Bellingham residents was evident. She displayed a willingness to learn and offered an intersectional lens throughout her campaign. Both Wainman and Huthman acknowledged that the council should be doing more to reduce the cost of living, especially when it comes to housing. However, Huthman offered a clearer vision for building enough new homes to improve affordability and meet the city's needs.

We lean towards re-electing Hollie Huthman due to her demonstrated track record advocating for progressive solutions for housing and alternative policing.

Kerri Burnside is challenging incumbent Skip Williams to represent Ward 4. Burnside is the president of the Silver Beach Neighborhood Association, a member of the Whatcom County Housing Advisory Committee, and an organizer with Bellingham Tenants Union. As a renter who has seen her own housing costs more than double over the last decade, Burnside is intently focused on the issue of housing affordability in Bellingham.

In our interview, Burnside presented plans specifically geared to protect renters and tenants in Bellingham. She is a fierce advocate for tenant protections, including the removal of junk fees, relocation assistance, and rent control. After previously owning a home and becoming a renter herself, she is closely attuned to the challenges facing tenants. This year, she was very active volunteering in support of the successful rent stabilization legislation in Olympia.

Burnside expressed frustration with the current council's lack of progress on affordable housing. In particular, she criticized what she perceives as a lack of enforcement regarding the junk fee ordinance. Overall, she demonstrated a detailed understanding of state and local tenant laws and housing policies. Beyond housing, Burnside emphasized the need to create safer streets and improve emergency response times in underserved areas.

While we appreciate her inclusive advocacy for improving rental conditions and the cost of living, we are concerned that her proposals are too narrowly focused to address Bellingham's severe housing shortage. She is supportive of cooperative and community housing, but we were hoping to hear more about her plans to build significantly more homes throughout the city.

Kerri Burnside is a progressive candidate who is actively involved in improving housing conditions in Bellingham. As a renter, she would offer an important perspective that is currently underrepresented on the council. However, we lean towards re-electing Skip Williams to continue pushing forward the council's important work to increase the housing supply and reduce the cost of living in Bellingham.

Incumbent Michael Lilliquist is running for a fifth term on the Bellingham City Council representing Ward 6. Lilliquist was first elected to the city council in 2009 and serves on several other community boards, including the Whatcom Transportation Authority, the Whatcom County Justice Project Stakeholder Advisory Committee, and the Mt. Baker Theatre.

Lilliquist has been a champion of environmental advocacy on the council. He has fought to protect Lake Whatcom, move Puget Sound Energy away from coal power, target single-use plastic bags and other “instant garbage,” and build up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and thorough approach to policymaking. He is in favor of crisis response alternatives that alleviate pressure on law enforcement, as well as strong unions and workers’ rights.

Lilliquist tends to be more cautious with his votes on expanding access to housing. In January, Lilliquist was one of two council members to vote against removing parking mandates city-wide - a strategy to boost housing production amid a dire shortage. Lilliquist's decision appeared to be based on concerns over equity and sustainability. While he is still supportive of affordable housing measures, his nuanced solutions would be more effective when combined with rapidly increasing the available supply, rather than serving as a replacement for broader development.

Michael Lilliquist is a reasonable choice if you're seeking experienced leadership to help the city navigate a path forward on multiple challenging issues. If he's re-elected, we hope he'll take a more ambitious approach to addressing the city's severe housing shortage.