Here’s who is supporting Whatcom primary candidates seeking seats in the 42nd District

Voters in the 42nd Legislative District have choices to make this year in the Aug. 2 primary, where all three legislative seats are in play, and all have multiple candidates.

Every state legislative district has two House representatives who serve two-year terms and one member of the Senate who serves a four-year term.

Washington’s 42nd District includes northern Bellingham neighborhoods and the rest of northern and eastern Whatcom County.

Each of the three races in the 42nd District features more than two candidates, but only the two who get the most votes will advance to the Nov. 8 general election, no matter their party affiliation.

Voting is conducted by mail, although voters who would like the experience of casting a ballot in person can go to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, 311 Grand St. in Bellingham.

Ballots must be placed in official drop boxes by 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, or postmarked — not simply mailed — by 8 p.m. Aug. 2.

Residents can register and vote until the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day, but they must do so in person.

State Senate

Two Republicans and a Democrat are running for the state Senate seat that the late Republican Sen. Doug Ericksen won in 2018 by 46 votes out of nearly 72,636 ballots cast.

Ericksen, who died in December 2021 after a five-week battle with COVID-19, represented Whatcom County with a strong conservative voice for nearly three decades.

▪ Sen. Simon Sefzik, R-Ferndale, a former White House intern and recent graduate of Patrick Henry College, was appointed by the Whatcom County Council in January to serve the remainder of Ericksen’s term.

In his first legislative session, which started the day of his appointment, Sefzik was assigned to the Higher Education and Workforce Development, Housing and Local Government and the Health and Long-Term Care committees.

“As your youngest choice, I believe I represent the future and a more age-diverse senate. I want to work with members of both parties to protect Whatcom County and improve our quality of life,” Sefzik said at his website.

Amid the recent rise in fuel prices, Sefzik sought in March to suspend the state gasoline tax of about 50 cents per gallon through the end of 2022, but his proposal didn’t advance.

He’s endorsed by the Whatcom Republicans, and by several statewide organizations, including the Washington Fraternal Order of Police, the Washington Food Industry Association, and by every member of the Republican Senate Caucus.

Sefzik has raised about $422,500 through July 31, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

That’s more than the fundraising for his two opponents combined.

About $166,000 of that money has come from individual contributions, with another $163,000 from the Republican Party, $60,000 from business and $32,000 from PACs, or political action committees.

▪ Rep. Sharon Shewmake, D-Bellingham, an economics professor at Western Washington University, is leaving her House Position 2 seat to run for state Senate.

She was elected to the state House in 2018 and re-elected in 2020.

In the House, Shewmake served on the Rural Development Committee, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Energy Committee and the Capital Budget Committee.

“As a mom, economist, and college professor, I’m committed to making policy decisions based on science and fact,” Shewmake said at her House website. “In past legislative sessions I’ve championed bills to make child care more affordable, support our dairy farmers, improve transportation, and create energy and resource efficiencies that protect our climate while saving taxpayer dollars.”

Shewmake teamed with her House Democratic colleague, Rep. Alicia Rule of Blaine, to secure funding and commitments to support small businesses and farmers that became part of a $20 million budget proviso for a statewide program to assist small businesses recovering from the November 2021 flooding, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.

That included $2 million to repair and prepare schools in the Nooksack Valley School District, $14 million to elevate Slater Road from frequent flooding, and another $2 million for the (Fire) Station 34 replacement that serves Marietta and Lummi Peninsula.

A range of statewide and local elected officials are supporting her campaign, including U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu, and Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood, along with Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

She has endorsements from the Whatcom Democrats and from a variety of groups representing labor, social justice and environmental interests, including Planned Parenthood, the Washington Education Association, the Washington State Labor Council, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Bellingham-Whatcom Firefighters and the Sierra Club.

Shewmake has raised $169,400 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Some $114,000 of that has come from individual contributions, $24,000 from PACs and $18,000 from unions.

In addition, the Public Disclosure Commission shows that third-party interests have spent $63,000 to support her campaign and $184,000 against her campaign.

▪ Whatcom County Council member Ben Elenbaas of Custer is running as a Republican.

Elenbaas, a farmer who also works at the BP Cherry Point Refinery, is in his first term on the County Council.

On the County Council, he chairs the Planning and Development Committee and is a member of the Natural Resources Committee. He represents the County Council on several community boards and committees, including the Birch Bay Library Facility, Drayton Harbor and Portage Bay Shellfish Protection Districts Advisory Committees, Flood Control Zone District Advisory Committee, Intergovernmental Tribal Relations Committee, and the Public Defense Advisory Committee, according to his council web page.

Elenbaas graduated from Western Washington University’s College of the Environment. He was the chair of the Charter Review Commission, served on the Whatcom County Planning Commission, and served in leadership with both the Cattlemen’s Association and the Farm Bureau.

“In Olympia the legislature is wrestling with regulatory changes as we move towards a clean energy future,” Elenbaas said at his campaign website, “If we do it right, we will both protect the environment and provide jobs far into the future. But if we take a divisive, partisan approach, we will drive away jobs in Whatcom County and harm the less fortunate among us most with high energy prices.”

At his Facebook page, Vote Ben Elenbaas, he lists the support of several current and former Whatcom County elected leaders and others, including Whatcom County councilmembers Kathy Kershner and Tyler Byrd, and former 42nd District state Rep. Vincent Buys.

Elenbaas has raised $105,915 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission..

Some $80,000 of that has come from individual contributions, and $17,000 from business interests.

House Position 1

Two Republicans are challenging incumbent state Rep. Alicia Rule, D-Blaine, who won her first term in 2020, unseating Republican state Rep. Luanne Van Werven.

▪ Rep. Alicia Rule is a therapist in private practice, and serving her first term in the state House.

A former member of the Blaine City Council and founder and former president of the Blaine Downtown Development Association, Rule is vice-chair of the Children, Youth and Families Committee and also serves on the Community and Economic Development and Capital Budget committees.

In her first year in the Legislature, Rule was the primary sponsor of legislation to expand the Main Street program to include tax incentives to respond to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and several other bills related to health care, education and agriculture.

“I want my children to be able to afford to live in Whatcom County, and we must continue to make investments that keep living wage jobs right here. I worked with downtown small business owners in Blaine to provide them with the resources they need, and, on the city council helped bring living wage jobs at the new healthcare center in Blaine,” Rule said at her campaign website.

Rule teamed with her House Democratic colleague, Rep. Sharon Shewmake of Bellingham, to secure funding and commitments to support small businesses and farmers that became part of a $20 million budget proviso for a statewide program to assist small businesses recovering from the November 2021 flooding, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.

She’s endorsed by the Whatcom Democrats and a variety of groups representing labor, social justice, business and environmental interests, including Planned Parenthood, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Washington State Labor Council, the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Bellingham-Whatcom Firefighters and the Washington State Hospital Association.

Rule has raised $141,086 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

More than $55,500 of that has come from individual contributions, $23,000 from PACs and $47,000 from sources the PDC lists as “other.”

▪ Tawsha (Dykstra) Thompson, a Lynden Republican, is a former Bellingham Police sergeant who was fired from the department in December 2021 after failing to comply with the city’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

In her 25 years as a police officer, Thompson has served in a canine unit and a bicycle patrol and has worked as a field training officer and a detective.

Thompson was commander of the Honor Guard Team, which attends the funerals of officers who die in the line of duty.

She was also a peer support and wellness coordinator, and a board member and president of the Bellingham Police Association and the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs’ representative for the Bellingham Police Guild in Olympia.

“Many people today are not feeling heard by the majority party,” Thompson said at her campaign website. “They do not feel the liberal progressive Democrats represent them. Many are choosing to leave rather than stay because of this. I refuse to leave because Whatcom County is my home.”

Thompson had raised $107,427 for her campaign through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, including $39,0000 from individual contributions and $48,000 from the Republican Party.

In addition, the Republican Party has spent $42,000 in support of Thompson, funds that are separate from her campaign, according to the PDC.

She’s endorsed by the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, and by Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo, Bellingham Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig, and former Bellingham Police Chief Flo Simon. She’s also endorsed by Van Werven, and by County Council members Kathy Kershner and Ben Elenbaas.

Thompson is “recommended,” but not officially endorsed, by the Whatcom Republicans.

▪ Kamal Bhachu of Blaine, who lost a November 2021 bid for the Whatcom County Council at-large seat, is running as a Republican.

Bhachu, who immigrated from India, attended Bellingham Technical College, earning degrees in both automotive technology and construction technology.

“I love when the community comes together for the betterment of the people,” .Bhachu said at his campaign website. “For this reason, my goal for this political position is to be that of a public servant and not a career politician. When you have pride in your community, you tend to take better care of it.”

Bhachu has raised $17,893 through July 29, nearly all of it from individual contributors, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

His campaign website lists endorsements from several Whatcom County residents, but no major organizations.

He’s “recommended,” but not officially endorsed, by the Whatcom Republicans.

House Position 2

Four people are seeking the House seat left open when Democratic incumbent Rep. Sharon Shewmake decided to run for state Senate after winning the seat in 2018 and holding it in 2020.

▪ Kyle Christensen, a Republican, is former mayor of Sumas and now working as Whatcom County recovery manager, assisting relief efforts from the November 2021 floods.

Christensen is a volunteer firefighter, served for six years as a Umatilla County sheriff’s deputy, and is also a real estate broker with Keller Williams Realty.

“I demonstrated strong leadership during the darkest days of the Whatcom County flood response efforts by assisting those in need,” Christensen said at his campaign website.

“My actions have earned the respect of local and regional leaders as I have humbly served my community. As a business owner, mayor, and volunteer, I have brought the community together to solve challenging problems. I want to bring this same leadership to the 42nd District,” he said.

He is “recommended,” but not officially endorsed, by the Whatcom Republicans.

Christensen has raised $48,403 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, and $33,000 of that figure was from individual contributions.

In addition, the Republican Party has spent $4,804 in support of Christensen, funds that are separate from his campaign, according to the PDC.

▪ Dan Johnson, is a Republican and former owner of a Whatcom County towing company who runs a vlog called “The Hook.”

Johnson served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993-97. In 2002, he bought his family’s towing business and sold it in 2019.

“During my time in the towing industry, I spent approximately 12 years as a legislative co-chair,” Johnson said at his campaign website.. “I was able to provide input and analysis on the issues that were surrounding my industry to include drafting bills, amending current laws and resolving issues that were brought forth by outside interests. Some examples of legislation I worked on were Hailey’s Law, an amended version of the Slow Down Move Over Law, an amended version of the Vehicle Seller’s Report of Sale and a vehicle redemption fix regarding next of kin.”

Johnson has raised $71,189 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission.

In addition, the Republican Party has spent $4,804 in support of Christensen, funds that are separate from his campaign, according to the PDC.

Johnson is endorsed by Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo and former Bellingham Police Chief Flo Simon. He is “recommended,” but not officially endorsed, by the Whatcom Republicans.

▪ Richard May of Blaine is a Democrat who’s a member of the Blaine City Council and serves as its mayor pro-tem.

After high school, May earned a chef’s diploma and worked in restaurants and catering for more than 30 years, also doing contract work in entertainment production including film, video, audio, and live performance, according to his campaign website.

He has a range of local government experience, including service on the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission, the Whatcom County permit appeals board and he advocated successfully for a Blaine school bond, and 10 years on the Blaine Planning Commission, according to his campaign website.

He is a former president of the Everson-Nooksack Chamber of Commerce and currently heads regional operations for an autographed memorabilia company and is a member of the American Federation of Musicians Local 1000.

“In recent months, people have had their rent raised 40%. Housing costs are out of control,” May said at his website.

“We also need better broadband internet, support for local business and jobs, transportation, education, good healthcare & childcare. We need river and clean water management that increases salmon numbers while still meeting the needs of farming. We need criminal justice reform that does what it’s supposed to do. It’s a long list, but we must aim for action and results starting now,” he said.

May has raised $60,188 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, including $45,972 in individual contributions and $2,000 from labor.

He has endorsements from Laborers Local 292, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union 300, and several other labor organizations, along with the Humane Voters of Washington and the Whatcom Environmental Voters.

▪ Joe Timmons of Bellingham is a Democrat who’s serving as Gov. Jay Inslee’s regional representative in Northwest Washington.

Timmons graduated from Western Washington University and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance.

“I’m running to ensure that everyone in our community has equitable access to affordable housing across the housing continuum; living wage jobs in their communities; high-quality educational opportunities for learners of all ages; and reliable internet for connecting with jobs, school, and health care,” Timmons said at his campaign website.

Timmons has raised $72,418 through July 29, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission, including $59,542 in individual contributions and $5,500 from PACs.

He is endorsed by several unions and by political, environmental, and social justice organizations, including the Young Democrats of Washington, Pro-Choice Washington, Washington State Labor Council AFL-CIO, Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Education Association PAC, Alliance for Gun Responsibility and the Riveters Collective.

He’s also been endorsed by many statewide and Whatcom County elected officials, including Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, 40th District Reps. Alex Ramel and Debra Lekanoff, state Sen. Liz Lovelett and Whatcom County Council members Kaylee Galloway, Todd Donovan and Carol Frazey.