Vision for Whatcom County

Here in Whatcom County, we have an incredible legacy.  We inherited clear water and clean air, healthy forests and diverse wildlife.  The County’s farmers provide food to the world from rich agricultural land.  Outdoor recreation is part of our way of life – fishing, hunting, boating, hiking.  I believe in handing down this legacy, which the people who came before us have worked so hard to protect.

People need places to work and live, and the County has an obligation to make responsible decisions about growth and the economy.  Making responsible decisions comes down to working together. 

• We need to bypass the partisan divisions that have mired the County in expensive litigation. 
• We need to create economic coalitions, not shout slogans at each other. 
• We need fiscally conservative land use planning, which will lower our taxes by preventing sprawl and the high costs of new services.
• We need to make sure that the County’s decisions help the community –our coworkers and our families, from infants to the elderly – and not just those who can afford to pay for lawyers to attend County meetings. 

If the County takes these steps to serve the community, our children and their children will have a place to call home.