We are asking citizens to reach out to the County Council Members (email provided below with talking points following) to urge them to vote without further delay for one of the three nominees to the senate seat vacated by Senator Doug Ericksen.

Today in special session, the Whatcom County Council, contrary to its own resolution to select a senator today to replace the seat vacated by the death of Sen. Doug Ericksen, voted to delay the vote! The 2022 legislative session is set to begin on January 10, and it was expected that a new senator for the 42nd would be sworn in before the beginning of the session. With this inexplicable delay, the north county, still reeling from the recent floods and frigid temperatures, will now risk losing a place at the table for the committees in the legislature where their interests could best have been served.

Phone the Council Office

360-778-5010

Here is the recommended message and addresses:

Staff
Name Title Email Phone Additional Phone
Frazey, Carol Email 360-778-5024
Browne, Rud Email 360-820-9494
Buchanan, Barry Email 360-224-4330
Donovan, Todd Email 360-483-8474
Byrd, Tyler Email 360-778-5021
Kershner, Kathy Email 360-220-7535
Elenbaas, Ben Email 425-395-4833

 

rbrowne@co.whatcom.wa.us, tdonovan@co.whatcom.wa.us, tbyrd@co.whatcom.wa.us,

KKershne@co.whatcom.wa.us, BElenbaa@co.whatcom.wa.us, bbuchanan@co.whatcom.wa.us,

cfrazey@co.whatcom.wa.us

council@co.whatcom.wa.us,

Subject: We Need Representation

To the Whatcom County Council:

We, the people, urge you to not further delay in making a decision for Senator Ericksen’s replacement. It was a great disappointment to see you refuse to interview the three eminently suitable candidates on Tuesday, January 4. The Whatcom County Republicans fulfilled their duty in presenting these three candidates in time according to the timeframe proposed by Barry Buchanan himself.

  • flood victims need representation in Olympia from day 1 of the session
  • the county council planned to vote on January 4, provided the Whatcom Republicans submit three nominees by December 31
  • these dates were the suggestion of the county council, with the anticipation that a senator could be appointed prior to the beginning of the session January 10
  • the Whatcom Republicans met the requested deadline
  • neither the Washington State Constitution nor the Bylaws of the party, which are the two governing documents in this process, require any further input from the people, but rather the nomination by the party and then voting by the county council
  • therefore, please move to a vote as soon as possible

We urge you to no longer stall but choose a senator on January 11 or even sooner.

 

Sincerely,

[your name]

Here are some suggested points for you to include in a message you draft yourself to the council members.

 

Points:

  • flood victims need representation in Olympia from day 1 of the session
  • the county council planned to vote on January 4, provided the Whatcom Republicans submit three nominees by December 31
  • these dates were the suggestion of the county council, with the anticipation that a senator could be appointed prior to the beginning of the session January 10
  • the Whatcom Republicans met the requested deadline
  • neither the Washington State Constitution nor the Bylaws of the party, which are the two governing documents in this process, require any further input from the people, but rather the nomination by the party and then voting by the county council
  • therefore, please move to a vote as soon as possible

 

We need to make our voices heard to the Council. Please do your part by writing them and forwarding this message to others who will write.

Sincerely,

John Ramsey

Chair | Whatcom County Republican Party