The membership of the Whatcom Democrats met with candidates seeking the endorsement of the party at our regular monthly membership meeting at Norway Hall, Bellingham, Thursday, June 18th, 2009.

In accordance with our Endorsement Policy, the membership of the Whatcom Democrats will consider candidates for endorsement, at its June meeting. Members must attend to participate. The meeting is held at Norway Hall, 1419 N. Forest St, Bellingham, 7 - 9 pm. 

Due to the full agenda on endorsements, the presentation by Dr. Dave Lynch on LOCAL & STATE HEALTH CARE SOLUTIONS has been postponed.

FACT: The County budget is balanced every year. For twelve straight years there has been no County property tax increase.

Brett Bonner, unsuccessful candidate for Mayor of Bellingham, has gathered the required signatures for a mini-initiative calling for voter approval for County property tax increases using “banked” taxing capacity.

 The prognosis for meaningful health care reform in the United States in 2009 is not good, but there is a glimmer of hope. Congress and the President have invited the Health Insurance Industry to the table, but have excluded single-payer advocates from discussion on legislation.

Now we have to show Congress where the American people stand.
Call Senators Cantwell and Murray, and Rep Larsen, and tell them you want a Single-Payer solution.
Toll free number for any Congress member: 1-866-338-1015

By Michele Kammerer

On May 26th the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, which banned same sex marriage, and yet allowed the 18,000 same sex marriages that had already taken place to stand.  On that afternoon approximately 80 people converged on all four corners of Cornwall and Magnolia in Bellingham to protest the anti-marriage equality decision in California. Tens of thousands of folks protested in over ninety other cities in North America.

This was just a warm-up for a summer of gay-bashing rhetoric in Washington.

President Obama has announced three bedrock requirements for real health care reform:

Whatcom Democrats Membership Meeting

NEW DAY & LOCATION: Thursday, May 21, 7-9 pm
Norway Hall, 1419 N. Forest St, Bellingham, (between Champion & Magnolia) MAP

Louise Bjornson's surprise retirement announcement has set in motion a game of musical chairs as local electeds decide to run for a different office. Laurie Caskey-Schrieber, previously saying she would retire from the County Council, has decided

At the May meeting, the membership adopted a new policy that will get Party resources in the hands of Democratic candidates much earlier in a campaign season. Our endorsement policy has been fairly strict in limiting resources to candidates only after endorsement, which can happen as late as after the August Primary. 

by Merry Schnell

Whatcom 2031 was the topic at the 42nd Legislative District Democrats meeting on Saturday, March 14. Panelists Dave Pros, former County Planning Commission member, Ken Mann, County Planning Commission member, and Carl Weimer, County Councilman, discussed some of the issues concerning the process of developing a plan for 20-year growth. Among the issues facing the Commission are how realistic current population projections are, can growth be accommodated in the existing incorporated cities, and how growth in rural areas can be controlled to preserve farmland and open spaces.