We are better than our current politics.

We have more in common than that which divides us.

I have a passion to serve my community, and I bring a unique set of qualifications to tackle the issues facing our county. My campaign is about the investment we are going to make together in our collective future. It is about leadership based on strong community values, thoughtful dialogue, and a steady hand on the wheel of County Government.

We must not be powerless to solve our common issues due to our inability to have civil and meaningful conversations.

Consensus does not mean we agree on everything. It means that we can all live with the solutions we propose as a community. We, the people of Whatcom County, need to have the courage to disagree and still love each other.

We are better than our current politics.

We have more in common than that which divides us.

I have a passion to serve my community, and I bring a unique set of qualifications to tackle the issues facing our county. My campaign is about the investment we are going to make together in our collective future. It is about leadership based on strong community values, thoughtful dialogue, and a steady hand on the wheel of County Government.

We must not be powerless to solve our common issues due to our inability to have civil and meaningful conversations.

Consensus does not mean we agree on everything. It means that we can all live with the solutions we propose as a community. We, the people of Whatcom County, need to have the courage to disagree and still love each other.

Environment and Climate Change

Climate change is an existential threat to the human species. For the past 150 years, we have not been cleaning up after ourselves. We must take full responsibility, stop polluting and take action to reverse this trend. Here are some things I propose:

• Conduct an Environmental Audit for all County operations to identify where improvements can be made right now and over the long term.
• Empower Experts to create a roadmap for a cleaner and prosperous future.
• Plant A Million Trees over the next five years!
• Promote Positive Change in our energy use, our purchasing habits, our eating habits and routine business practices.

Housing Affordability and Land-Use Planning

We must learn to use our land more efficiently. We cannot continue to develop ag lands and natural areas. The land we have already set aside for human habitation should be used in a way to accommodate more people.

We have been growing at a rate of one Ferndale every 3.5 years, adding more the 4,000 residents a year. And this trend will continue into the foreseeable future. Do we have any advance planning for that?

Unfortunately, no, at least not on the scale necessary to manage this growth. The current problems of housing affordability, homelessness, income equality, and environmental degradation are our inheritance of poor long-term planning and lack of vision at all levels of government. We should not punish our children and grandchildren with the same failure to plan ahead.

I will challenge the County Council, land developers, landowners, county and municipal planners, conservation groups, farmers, and city residents to work together.

My vision is:

1. Work with County Council to explore modifications of our land-use policies and Urban Growth Areas, such as expanding mixed zoning, infill, and higher density.
2. Avoid housing on prime agricultural lands and utilize county lands that are more suitable for housing and commercial development.
3. Minimize rural development where each home requires a separate well and septic system. Promote community water and sewer facilities where feasible.

The Water Challenge

Water is the lifeblood of Whatcom County, from the glaciers on Mount Baker to estuaries and bays of the Salish Sea. However, a legacy of poor planning, pollution, and now Climate Change threaten this critical resource. We must preserve and enhance the fish habitat, and provide water for farmers and residents, all while improving our environment and water quality.

I have provided both visionary and practical leadership on this issue since 2020. I am facilitating the pragmatic pathway for farmers, tribes, environmental groups, government caucus and other stakeholders to convene a cooperative solution to Nooksack basin for enhanced salmon habitat and preserve 100K acres of AG lands. This is a continuing process, and I will provide the same leadership for next four years.

WORKING WITH LUMMI NATION & NOOKSACK TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS

I have worked diligently to improve County government relations with both Lummi Nation and Nooksack tribal governments on matters of enhancing salmon habitat, water quality, environmental preservation and economic development and transportation projects like improvements to Slater Road corridor and flood mitigation. I plan to expand this cooperation further over the next four years.

Legal and Criminal Justice System Reforms

Since I started my first term in January 2020, I have developed a new cooperative relationship between the County and the City of Bellingham governments. Both Administrations and Councils have worked collaboratively during pandemic, criminal justice issues, developing a new racial equity commission, new Justice Facility public process and reforms in our incarceration policies and procedures. We established GRACE, LEAD and Alternative Response Team (ART) with joint investments.

We gained support from the County Prosecutor’s office, public defender’s office, Sheriff, Bellingham Police Chief, and Whatcom County Health Department to implement these programs. County invested over $6 million to clear the criminal case backlog as well.

I will continue the process of cooperation with both Administrations and Councils to achieve the goals set county residents for their community. The County is ready to invest additional funds needed to start construction of 32-bed sobering facility with $9 million from State in 2024.

I will work with the new mayor and prosecutor to propose a long-term joint strategy to fund the alternates to incarceration, long-term care for mental health, addiction services, triage facility operations, and to invest in a new and properly equipped jail building with wrap-around services in Bellingham.

In some ways, however, the moon landing also represents an unfulfilled promise. What is the value of that accomplishment in view of the challenges we face today—the climate crisis, the homelessness crisis, the opioid crisis? It seems we are still waiting for mankind to make that giant leap into a better future for everyone.

Nonetheless, I remain optimistic! I believe that if we focus our best minds and sufficient resources we can address these issues in a meaningful way. If I did not believe that, I would not be running for Whatcom County Executive.

This is my commitment to you: I will work tirelessly for you and with you over the next four years to achieve real progress on these core issues facing our community.

But first, I ask for your support and your vote!

In some ways, however, the moon landing also represents an unfulfilled promise. What is the value of that accomplishment in view of the challenges we face today—the climate crisis, the homelessness crisis, the opioid crisis? It seems we are still waiting for mankind to make that giant leap into a better future for everyone.

Nonetheless, I remain optimistic! I believe that if we focus our best minds and sufficient resources we can address these issues in a meaningful way. If I did not believe that, I would not be running for Whatcom County Executive.

This is my commitment to you: I will work tirelessly for you and with you over the next four years to achieve real progress on these core issues facing our community.

But first, I ask for your support and your vote!

Satpal Sidhu
Whatcom County Executive