Representation Debates Heat Up at Whatcom Charter Commission Meeting

By Greg Thames

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A contentious meeting of the Whatcom County Charter Commission stretched over two hours, revealing deep divisions on how to modernize county governance. The discussions highlighted fundamental questions about representation and procedure.

The session, marked by disagreements over meeting schedules and seating arrangements, showed the challenges the commission faces in reviewing and potentially amending the county’s charter.

Among the concerns raised, resident Rosemary Van Dyk shared a striking statistic: 71,415 county residents are underrepresented compared to 95,386 municipal residents. Van Dyk explained this imbalance reflects a lack of equitable representation for residents living outside municipal boundaries.

“The county itself is being underrepresented at this point,” she told the commission, advocating for changes to address this issue.

Tensions flared during the meeting when Commissioner Joe Elenbaas, frustrated with inadequate space arrangements compared to the seven-member county council, refused to be seated. “I will not be treated like cattle,” he declared, opting instead to sit in the audience.

Key Decisions and Upcoming Meetings

After extended debate, the commission voted 11-4 to include a presentation on election topics, including rank choice voting with insights from the county auditor at its next meeting on January 27, 2025.

Ranked-choice voting differs from the current “winner-takes-all” system. Instead of voting for just one candidate, voters rank their preferences. If no candidate receives more than half of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Votes for that candidate are then redistributed to voters’ next choices. This process continues until one candidate has a majority.

This potential change could significantly impact how elections function in Whatcom County.

Operational Adjustments

The commission also established a regular meeting schedule, agreeing to meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. After revisiting this topic twice in as many meetings, members expressed hope this schedule would remain final.

New procedures were also adopted for written questions submitted to department heads or elected officials appearing before the commission. These questions must now be submitted at least five days before meetings.  Doing this gives the department leaders a chance to research answers for the commission, before speaking with them.

Another debated topic was whether to begin meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. While opinions were initially divided, the motion passed with an 11-4 vote.

Looking Ahead

The commission faces the dual challenge of working efficiently and carefully as it considers changes to county governance. Residents can attend the next meeting on January 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ferndale Public Library.

For those unable to attend, updates will continue to be provided by Bellingham Metro News.

---

Correction: Confusion arose regarding the motion to invite the elections department head to speak at the Whatcom Charter Commission Meeting. The motion was initially about rank choice voting but was later broadened to encompass general election questions. This article was updated on January 18, 2025, to reflect this change.