Jean in her own words

I live in Bellingham with Devon, my husband of 21 years, and our children Nate and Claire, who both attend Bellingham High School.  When we moved here in 1996 after I got a teaching job at Western Washington University, we were struck by the wonderful community. It was because of all this county has to offer that we chose to raise our family here.

I grew up in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.  We lived next door to the house in which my father grew up, and my father farmed with his father.  I always have had a love for the land. At Western, I teach courses based on my interest in the land use and natural resources, born of my rural upbringing.  Many of my students share similar backgrounds.  I’ve had students from Blaine, Bellingham, and all points in between, the children of loggers, dairy farmers, refinery workers, truck drivers, and fishermen.  They’re proud of Whatcom County, they’re concerned about Whatcom County’s future, and I’ve learned a lot about Whatcom County from them.

We have a wonderful legacy here, one that I hold dear. While my story is pretty common, I look forward to hearing more about your lives and why you value Whatcom. Feel free to email me at voteforjean@gmail.com. I can't wait to hear from you.