City Council member announces resignation

Ferndale City Council Member Cathy Watson today announced she is resigning from her position on the council.

Watson provided the following via email.

Today, I am resigning from the Ferndale City Council. While I have tried for more than seven years to support the needs of our residents, it has become painfully obvious I no longer have the ability to affect change as a councilmember. I also don’t have the energy to continue fighting, knowing I will always be one of two “No” votes on too many important issues where I think the City is out of sync with the desires of its residents.

By resigning now, before candidate filing week, I’m also ensuring my council position will be on the November ballot, so the voters can choose someone to complete the last two years of my term rather than the mayor and council. There are many good candidates who have already stepped up to run for council and I hope you will also have a good option to replace me.
This year, Ferndale residents have a unique opportunity to completely remake your city government. Please take the time to learn about and meet every candidate. Sadly, some candidates for political office will not hesitate to lie to get your vote, so don’t believe any incumbent who tells you they alone are responsible for everything good that’s happened in Ferndale in the last 10 years, or any candidate who says they alone have the skills to fix Ferndale’s many problems. Choose your candidates carefully as if your future depended on each one of them, because it does.
With this resignation, I am retiring from political life, though I will continue to serve our community as a volunteer with those organizations where my efforts can still produce results.

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It has been an honor to serve the people of Ferndale on our City Council.

Watson also cited 2 examples of the 5 to 2 votes she mentioned in her announcement.

1. September 2018 – Tax Exemptions for Multi-Family Developments
   Watson noted “both the Ferndale School District and Whatcom County Fire District 7 asked the Council NOT to approve”
2. April 2019 – Waiving Development Fees – Downtown Catalyst Program

With Watson’s resignation, voters are now going to be tasked with electing 6 of the 7 positions on the Ferndale City Council.

Watson was first elected to the council in 2011. She left her position to run for mayor in 2015 but lost to Jon Mutchler by 103 votes. She was appointed by the other councilmembers to the position Mutchler vacated. She was then elected by the voters in 2017 to the current term which ends December 31, 2021.