Ken Bell for Port

A few of our favorite candid dog pics from this season!
Capt. Ryan of Legato Maritime's faithful "boat nerd" ⚓️
And my best bud, Stella
Thank goodness for our four-leggeds ❤️

This is a nonpartisan position committed to economic development and job creation for EVERYONE in Whatcom County. I'm proud to be endorsed by leaders from both parties such as former Mayor Kelli Linville, Councilman Mark Stremler, Whatcom County Association of Realtors , Councilman Ben Ellenbaas, former Councilman Rud Browne, Mayor Scott Korthuis, former State Representative LuAnne Van Werven, and many, many others

I'm focused on bringing new living-wage careers to our community so young professionals can find long-term employment and afford to stay in Whatcom County and raise their families.

The progress that you want to see from the Port is in process. We’ve taken vital steps to restore organization and fiscal responsibility, cleaning up contaminated sites, rebuilding infrastructure, and modernizing operations.

✅ We have established landmark agreements with the Lummi Tribe to ensure our Port properties are maintained and utilized for future generations.

✅ With help from State and Federal grants, we have been restoring and modernizing our shipping terminal to full functionality, ensuring it’s multimodal and accessible by both rail and ship to bring living-wage careers to Whatcom County

✅ We have made steps towards making the Port more resilient to rising seas and high-water events

✅ We are completing the cleanup of sites in Blaine and Squalicum Harbor for development, and we have 12 more site cleanups underway

✅ We have been working to save industrial land for necessary industries by purchasing the Marine Drive industrial park and providing space for Corvus Energy, Northline Seafoods, Granite gravel, Sierra Pacific Industries, as well as our industrial park at Bellingham International Airport.

✅ We purchased the historic Boxx Berry Farm and established an agricultural research center to keep the property in Agricultural use and protect our agricultural industries.

✅ We initiated a change in the commission structure from 3 to 5 commissioners for broader representation and increased public participation

✅ We are working to attract businesses that will improve our tourism industry so that we generate more internal demand for our airport. Once consistent demand is there, it will open up opportunities for new routes.

Through all this progress, we’ve kept a tight budget and have not raised your taxes. I intend to continue the momentum. We are closer than ever to realizing the waterfront we envision and establishing the living-wage careers at our shipping terminal that our community needs.