We don’t have to choose between industry, housing and public access. With a community-driven vision, clear priorities, and thoughtful planning, we can have it all. I joined this race to bring fresh and stable leadership to the port, and to sit down with all of the county’s stakeholders to craft a vision of our waterfront. We already know marine trades and water-dependent businesses take priority on our shoreline. So does public access. We must invest in infrastructure that supports both, with expanded moorage, continued modernization of our Shipping Terminal and clear buffer zones to keep neighbors safe. We need pedestrian routes, bike parking, wayfinding and year-round activity that connects the waterfront to downtown and beyond.

I want to make it so no one north of Everett ever considers driving to SeaTac because Bellingham Airport is a smooth experience that gets travelers where they need to go, when they want to go. The first step to bringing flights back is stable leadership from the port. Airlines want leadership that listens, honors its word and invests in its facilities. Bellingham provides an incredible opportunity to be the shortcut to the skies for Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan counties, along with B.C. I want Bellingham Airport to be a showcase of the county’s identity. Through art installations and interactive exhibits, we can tell the story of our home, sharing the culture and innovation that define our community, attracting new businesses and investors.

We need to initiate future development projects by asking hard questions. Does the project align with the long-term vision our community has for its downtown waterfront? Will it protect water-dependent uses of our shoreline, strengthen our maritime trades and meet our environmental standards? Too often, the port has failed to do that diligence, leading to lawsuits and stalled progress. As a tenant of the Granary, I know this firsthand. As commissioner, I’ll hold developers to a higher standard and look for partners who share our values. I will only support projects that strengthen our community vision, protect our shoreline for water-dependent uses, and leave us with something our children and grandchildren will thank us for.

I support expanding the port commission from three to five members. The people have made clear they want a stronger voice in port decisions. The county has grown since the port’s founding, and three commissioners no longer provide the diversity of perspective needed to meet today’s challenges. Five commissioners offer healthier debate and decisions that better reflect community needs. The Open Public Meetings Act prevents discussions outside public meetings, which means institutional knowledge rests with staff or special interests. Expanding the commission brings that knowledge back to our elected representatives. I welcome this change, and I look forward to sitting at that table of five. More voices mean better decisions for Whatcom County.

The port’s new executive director needs to be willing to listen to the community and build a collaborative vision of what the port can and should be doing. They need to share the core values of Whatcom County residents — stewardship of our land and water; sustainable prosperity built on family-wage jobs and fair labor practices; respect for our community; and a commitment to honoring our maritime heritage while celebrating the creativity and culture that will shape our future. Most importantly, the port’s new leader must have the skills and demeanor to build a culture of trust, both inside the port organization and with the people it serves.

We are a city connected to the Salish Sea and when we push maritime trades aside, we lose a part of our soul. First Nations were seafaring boatbuilders; the first settlers arrived by water. The very first cargo shipment to leave Puget Sound sailed from here, and our community thrived because of its deep connection to the water. Waterfront land is irreplaceable, and the SMA is clear that water-dependent uses come first. We need to safeguard the industrial areas we have while creating buffer zones so maritime trades and public access can coexist. A healthy, working waterfront doesn’t exclude mixed-use. It balances it. The same people who enjoy a cold IPA at Trackside should also be able to afford to live here because we’ve protected family-wage jobs tied to the water. Whatcom County is strongest when we honor our maritime roots while planning for the future. We owe it to past generations, and to our kids, to keep our waterfront working.

Adding dock capacity is a step in the right direction, because it takes pressure off Squalicum Harbor and keeps moorage rates stable for working boats. I support redeveloping the ASB into a space specifically for larger commercial vessels so we’re not forcing the working fleet to compete with recreation for limited slips. But we can’t ignore deferred maintenance. Infrastructure that’s been under-managed for the past 30–50 years needs real investment if we’re going to attract and retain a strong fleet. The WWC has shown how much can be done when partners step up—advocating for small, independent fishers with marketing, cold storage, or fish processing. I want to see the Port Commission continue in that spirit, as a reliable partner that listens, invests, and manages wisely. We can turn our harbor into a place of stability, where the next generation of fishing families knows they have a lasting livelihood here.

When a developer shows up with money in hand, we should welcome their interest. But investment alone isn’t enough. We have to ask the hard questions. Will this project protect water-dependent uses, strengthen our maritime trades, and meet our environmental standards? Does it align with the long-term vision our community has for its working waterfront? Too often, the port has failed to do that diligence, leading to lawsuits and stalled progress. As Commissioner, I’ll hold developers to a higher bar and look for partners who share our values—keeping the waterfront essential for marine trades, respecting our environment, and honoring our maritime heritage. Prioritizing luxury condos and superyachts over fishing boats and shipyards doesn’t reflect those values. I will only support projects that strengthen our community, protect our shoreline for water-dependent uses, and leave us with something our children and grandchildren will thank us for.

The C Street Marine Trades Area and the ASB lagoon should be secured for marine uses. Since the port already owns nearly all of the land, no formal appeal is necessary—the port can simply request the City to rezone. While the port has already committed to marine uses, the request would build trust with our maritime community and create a shared vision with the City. Fun fact: this site has always been central to Bellingham’s story. Once upon a time, it generated over 10% of the City’s budget as the red-light district. Later, boats would pull into the Whatcom Waterway because the toxic water there killed barnacles on their hulls. That history reminds us how far we’ve come, and how much responsibility we have now to get it right. Redevelopment should mean additional moorage, safe and secure stormwater management, and a permanent home for marine trades.

Guest moorage on the Whatcom Waterway is important and long overdue. When boaters can tie up downtown, they don’t just visit the harbor; they support local restaurants, shops, and small businesses. That’s good for the port, good for our economy, and good for building the kind of vibrant waterfront culture we all want. But moorage alone isn’t enough. To make this work, we need safe pedestrian routes, bike parking, clear wayfinding, and year-round activity that connects the waterfront to the heart of downtown and Fairhaven. The port must lead a coordinated plan with the City and local businesses to ensure this investment delivers long-term economic returns. Guest moorage is not just an amenity; it’s an economic strategy. Done right, it strengthens our working waterfront by bringing more people to see and support the industries, jobs, and culture that make Bellingham unique.

This area is a wonderful opportunity to connect the public with our maritime culture. I support creating a space that engages people—through a maritime museum, a boating hub, or interactive experiences that help visitors understand the vessels and industries at work in our harbor. I’ll make sure this redevelopment delivers both cultural and economic value. That means wayfinding and storytelling that highlight our maritime history, and safe public viewing areas that build appreciation for the work being done at the Shipping Terminal. When people see the value of our working waterfront, they become stronger advocates for protecting it. We already have the pieces—history, culture, active industry, and a community eager to connect. What we need now is leadership with vision to tie them together, so Salish Landing becomes more than just another park, it’s a place where people truly experience Whatcom County’s maritime culture.

Promoting the modernization of the Shipping Terminal is an opportunity to build trust, create jobs, and strengthen our economy. To our neighbors in South Hill: transparency matters. You deserve to know what the port is planning, what investments we’re making, and how we’re ensuring that it is a safe operation. Clear communication builds confidence, and the port has a responsibility to keep you informed every step of the way. To our working families: the Shipping Terminal means good-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. Our working waterfront fed four generations here, and it can once again provide opportunities for people to build a future in Whatcom County. To the greater business community: you can count on a port committed to making Bellingham a competitive, reliable place to work and invest. Handled right, the Shipping Terminal can become the symbol of a new era for the port—transparent, dependable, environmentally responsible, and committed to good jobs and a resilient economy.

By 2045, I want Whatcom County to be a place where people can live, work, and build their future with confidence. The port should be known for stability, strategic investment, and a community-driven vision that lasts for generations. I want to see Bellingham’s waterfront shaped by cooperation. Industry will be thriving alongside safe, welcoming public spaces. The Bellingham Airport will be recognized as the region’s reliable choice—no one north of Everett even considers driving to SeaTac because our airport offers travelers a smooth experience that gets people where they need to go, when they want to go. Whatcom County is a place where you can grow up and build a life if you choose, because industrial lands remain protected and supported by modern infrastructure, sustaining the jobs that keep families rooted here. New ventures succeed alongside legacy industries because port support for entrepreneurs and small businesses is available through incubator programs and targeted grants. I want to see our shoreline and waterways healthier than they’ve been because the port has completed long overdue cleanups and habitat restoration. Finally, I want to see port assets and resources utilized to benefit and uplift all of Whatcom County.