Emotion and Tradition Collide at Whatcom County Charter Meeting

By Greg Thames

FERNDALE, Wash. – An American flag that once draped a veteran’s casket took center stage at the latest Whatcom County Charter Review Commission meeting, setting the tone for an emotional hour-long debate about patriotism, personal freedom, and local government traditions.

Pledge of Allegiance Sparks Passionate Debate

The meeting opened in the Ferndale Library with an intense discussion about whether to continue reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of meetings. Commissioner Andrew Reding, drawing from his homeland security experience, made a passionate case about constitutional freedoms. “American patriotism centers on a constitutional commitment,” Reding explained. “It’s the one we took the oath for… a constitutional commitment to freedom, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of conscience.” He noted that even “US law specifies persons in uniform should remain silent, face and apply, and render a military salute” during the Pledge if they choose. Commissioner Reding ultimately chose to vote against the measure. 

In one of the evening’s most powerful moments, Commissioner Hanah Ordos brought forward an American flag, sharing a deeply personal story. “This represents to me… more than 14,000 veterans that we have in Whatcom County that have served our country whether they believe in what they were fighting for or not,” Ordos shared. “They had great courage to make great sacrifice. “Holding the flag that had covered their father’s casket, Ordos continued with emotion in her voice: “When I look at the flag, when I pledge allegiance, it is a hope for me of a place where we would like to be as a perfect nation, knowing who we are, imperfect people.”

The discussion grew tense when Commissioner Lindsey Graham Elenbaas questioned whether Commissioner Reding, the former Chair of the Whatcom Democrats, had pressured fellow democrats to change their votes. This question went unanswered but created visible discomfort in the room. After the hour-long debate on this topic, the commission voted 11-3 to keep the Pledge as part of their meetings.

What Makes Whatcom County Special?

Unlike most counties in Washington state, Whatcom County has something called “home rule.” This means our county gets to make more of its own decisions about how to run things. When the Charter Review Commission suggests changes and enough commissioners agree, voters get the final say on whether to make these changes law.

How Charter Amendments Get Approved

Before any changes can reach voters, the commission follows a careful step-by-step process:

1. Submitting a Proposal: Commissioners must submit their ideas at least five business days before a meeting. This gives staff time to prepare all the necessary materials.
2. First Vote: At the meeting, commissioners take an initial vote to decide if the idea is worth discussing further. If most commissioners say yes, it moves to the next step.
3. Research Period: Instead of rushing to decide, the proposal gets scheduled for a future meeting. This gives commissioners time to:
   • Research the idea thoroughly
   • Hear from experts
   • Listen to what the public thinks
4. Full Discussion: At the next scheduled meeting, commissioners have an in-depth debate about the amendment, considering different viewpoints and how it might affect the community.
5. Final Decision: Then at the following meeting, commissioners make their final choice to:
   • Put it on the ballot for voters to decide (Super Majority: 10 or more votes)
   • Wait and discuss it more
   • Drop the amendment completely
6. Public Vote: Any Charter Amendment that receives a super majority vote from the commission then is placed on the ballot in November for the public to vote on.

Five Major Proposals Under Consideration so far…

1. Longer Budget Review Time: Commissioner Jon Mutchler introduced a proposal to extend the county’s budget review from 75 to 100 days, explaining that “the county council suggested this change to give the executive branch more time to prepare a well-thought-out budget.”
2. Making the Prosecuting Attorney Position Non-Political: Commissioner Mutchler argued for this change, stating, “All of our other offices—executive, council members, treasurer—are nonpartisan. I can’t see a good reason the Prosecuting Attorney needs to have an ‘R’ or ‘D’ next to their name.” The motion passed 10-4, with one abstention.
3. Changes to Referendum Requirements: Commissioner Reding proposed aligning signature requirements for referendums with initiatives. Commissioner Maya Morales expressed concerns, suggesting “lowering the threshold could make referendums too easy to abuse.”
4. Balancing Government Powers: The commission will examine the relationship between the executive and legislative branches after recent conflicts. They plan to invite the county executive to discuss clearer rules and public notice requirements.
5. Property Tax Supermajority: A proposal requiring five out of seven council votes to raise property taxes aims to “help prevent frequent tax increases and protect housing affordability,” according to Commissioner Mutchler.

These 5 proposals now move on to the next step in the process, The Research Period.

Scheduled Review Process

The commission approved a detailed schedule to review the charter article by article:

• February 27: Articles One & Two – Legislative Branch
• March 13: Article Three – Executive Branch
• March 27: Article Four – Elections
• April 10: Article Five – The Public Interest
• April 24: Article Six – Financial Administration
• May 8: Articles Seven & Nine – Personnel System & General Provisions
• May 22: Article Eight – Charter Review & Amendments

What’s Next?

The next meeting is scheduled for February 13 at 6:00 PM at the Lynden Library. A planned meeting with County Elections Director Stacy Henthorn was postponed to February 27, 2025, due to scheduling conflicts.

These proposed changes could significantly impact how Whatcom County operates. The commission encourages public participation as they continue their review process. Each proposal will receive careful consideration before potentially appearing on your ballot this fall.

Want to stay informed? Follow local news coverage of these meetings to learn how these changes might affect you and your community.

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