The week from Monday, May 15th to Friday, May 19th, is the time this year for candidates to file for political offices scheduled to appear on the November 2023 General Election ballots in Whatcom County.
Candidates are encouraged to file their Declaration of Candidacy online. Online filing begins at 9am on Monday, May 15th, and closes at 4pm on Friday, May 19th. q1
Candidates running for re-election or for the first time are encouraged to review the Candidate Filing Guide. The guide contains information candidates need to know and requirements and regulations that can change from year to year.
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Click for more informationNotable this year are the new precinct boundaries across Whatcom County. Visit the Precincts and Maps webpage to view updated maps.
In-person filing opens May 15th at 8:30am and ends May 19th at 4:30pm. Candidates will be directed to a computer set up in the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.
A candidate may mail their Declaration of Candidacy form accompanied by the filing fee to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, Election Division, 311 Grand Ave., Suite 103, Bellingham, WA 98225. Filings will be received by mail beginning May 2nd but will not be processed until the official filing week.
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Click for more informationThe deadline for filings being received is 4:30pm on May 19th. Any filing received before May 1st or after the deadline will be rejected and returned to the candidate.
The following offices are open for election this year according to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office. Incumbents listed may or may not choose to run for reelection.
District County Office Term Incumbent Filing Fee COUNTY Whatcom Executive 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Satpal S. Sidhu $2,092.64 COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4 Whatcom Council District 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kathy Kershner $582.46 COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 Whatcom Council District 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Ben Elenbaas $582.46 COUNTY Whatcom At-Large Position B 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Carol Frazey $582.46 COUNTY Whatcom Assessor 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Rebecca Xczar $1,365.32 COUNTY Whatcom Auditor 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Diana Bradrick $1,365.32 COUNTY Whatcom Sheriff 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Bill Elfo $1,811.93 COUNTY Whatcom Treasurer 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Steven Oliver $1,365.32 COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 Whatcom Commissioner District 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Robert (Bobby) Briscoe $84.00 CITY OF BELLINGHAM Whatcom Mayor 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Seth Fleetwood $2,211.96 BELLINGHAM WARD 1 Whatcom Council Ward 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Hannah E. Stone $670.00 BELLINGHAM WARD 3 Whatcom Council Ward 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Daniel Hammill $670.00 BELLINGHAM WARD 5 Whatcom Council Ward 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Lisa Anderson $670.00 CITY OF BELLINGHAM Whatcom Council At-Large 2-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kristina Michele Martens $670.00 BLAINE WARD 1 Whatcom Council Ward 1 Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Richard May $0.00 BLAINE WARD 2 Whatcom Council Ward 2 Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Garth Baldwin $0.00 BLAINE WARD 3 Whatcom Council Ward 3 Position 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Mary Lou Steward $0.00 CITY OF EVERSON Whatcom Council Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan David Sarna $0.00 CITY OF EVERSON Whatcom Council Position 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan John Hammond $18.00 CITY OF EVERSON Whatcom Council Position 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Ashley Brown $18.00 CITY OF FERNDALE Whatcom Mayor 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Greg Hansen $337.44 CITY OF FERNDALE Whatcom Council Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Herb Porter $85.80 CITY OF FERNDALE Whatcom Council Position 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Ali Hawkinson $85.80 CITY OF FERNDALE Whatcom Council Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Erin Gunter $85.80 CITY OF FERNDALE Whatcom Council Position 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Paul Shuey $85.80 CITY OF LYNDEN Whatcom Council Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Gary L. Bode $88.55 CITY OF LYNDEN Whatcom Council Position 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Ronald DeValois $88.55 CITY OF LYNDEN Whatcom Council Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Gerald (Jerry) Kuiken $88.55 CITY OF LYNDEN Whatcom Council Position 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Brent Lenssen $88.55 CITY OF NOOKSACK Whatcom Council Position 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Ryan Steward $18.00 CITY OF NOOKSACK Whatcom Council Position 5 4-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Marshall Judy $18.00 CITY OF SUMAS Whatcom Council Position 3 4-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Bob Bromley $18.00 CITY OF SUMAS Whatcom Council Position 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jesse Clawson $18.00 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT 501 Whatcom Director Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Camille Diaz Hackler $0.00 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT 501 Whatcom Director Position 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Katie Rose $0.00 BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT 501 Whatcom Director Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kelly Bashaw $0.00 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT 502 Whatcom Director District 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kevin Erickson $0.00 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT 502 Whatcom Director District 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Melinda Cool $0.00 FERNDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT 502 Whatcom Director District 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Toni Jefferson $0.00 BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT 503 Whatcom Director District 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kimberly Akre $0.00 BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT 503 Whatcom Director District 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Dougal Thomas $0.00 BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT 503 Whatcom Director District 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Erika Creydt $0.00 BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT 503 Whatcom Director District 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Charles Gibson $0.00 BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT 503 Whatcom Director District 5 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Donald Leu $0.00 LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT 504 Whatcom Director Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan C.J. Costanti $0.00 LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT 504 Whatcom Director Position 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Cynthia Petersen $0.00 LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT 504 Whatcom Director Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan David E. Vis $0.00 LYNDEN SCHOOL DISTRICT 504 Whatcom Director Position 5 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Ken Owsley $0.00 MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT 505 Whatcom Director District 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Sara Bernardy $0.00 MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT 505 Whatcom Director District 4 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Marty Gray $0.00 MERIDIAN SCHOOL DISTRICT 505 Whatcom Director District 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Craig Mitchell $0.00 NOOKSACK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT 506 Whatcom Director District 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Mark Olson $0.00 NOOKSACK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT 506 Whatcom Director At-Large No. 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jason Heutink $0.00 NOOKSACK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT 506 Whatcom Director At-Large No. 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Cheryl Thornton $0.00 MT BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT 507 Whatcom Director District 1 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Vacant $0.00 MT BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT 507 Whatcom Director District 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Edward Fox $0.00 MT BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT 507 Whatcom Director District 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Annie Elder $0.00 MT BAKER SCHOOL DISTRICT 507 Whatcom Director District 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt $0.00 CONCRETE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11 Skagit, Whatcom Director District 1 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Jessie Mattingly $0.00 CONCRETE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11 Skagit, Whatcom Director District 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Michael Brondi $0.00 CONCRETE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11 Skagit, Whatcom Director District 5, At-Large 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Laura Schmidt $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Randy VanderHeiden $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 4 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Steven Cooley $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 4 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Tim Johnson $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 5 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Norman Katz $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 7 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Eric Grant $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 8 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Lester Markhart $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 8 Whatcom Commissioner Position 4 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Dustin Gleaves $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 8 Whatcom Commissioner Position 5 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Keith Neher $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 11 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Wendell Terry $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 14 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Russell Vreudenhil $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 16 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Elvin Kalsbeek $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 17 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan William L. Carroll $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 18 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Socorro Ruiz $0.00 GLACIER FIRE AND RESCUE Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Magenta Widner $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 21 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Bruce Ansell $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 21 Whatcom Commissioner Position 4 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Matthew Rigberg $0.00 FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 21 Whatcom Commissioner Position 5 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kimberly Calman-McMurray $0.00 SOUTH WHATCOM FIRE AUTHORITY Whatcom Commissioner District 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan James Willson $0.00 SOUTH WHATCOM FIRE AUTHORITY Whatcom Commissioner District 3 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Bob Ekdahl $0.00 WATER DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jon “Pete” Rittmueller $0.00 WATER DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Fatma Yaprak Goertz $0.00 POINT ROBERTS WATER DISTRICT 4 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Scott Hackleman $0.00 WATER DISTRICT 7 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan George Kaas $0.00 BIRCH BAY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Don Montfort $0.00 LAKE WHATCOM WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner District 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Vacant $0.00 LAKE WHATCOM WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner District 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Todd Citron $0.00 LAKE WHATCOM WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner District 4 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Jeff Knakal $0.00 LAKE WHATCOM WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner District 5 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan John Carter $0.00 SAMISH WATER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Mary B. Hess $0.00 SAMISH WATER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Mike Roberts $0.00 WATER DISTRICT 13 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Rebecca Cayen $0.00 WATER DISTRICT 13 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Vacant $0.00 GLACIER WATER DISTRICT 14 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Connie Cook $0.00 GLACIER WATER DISTRICT 14 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Deborah Ellen Baker $0.00 ACME WATER DISTRICT 18 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Brad Falcetti $0.00 ACME WATER DISTRICT 18 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Thomas Garland $0.00 ACME WATER DISTRICT 18 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Jim Sutterfield $0.00 COLUMBIA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Carl McDaniel $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Wade A. Pettigrew $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Vickie Rainey $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Charles Baker $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Connie Berry $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Judy Trauth-Thomas $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 3 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Aaron De Boer $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 4 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jay Roelof $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 5 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Kenneth John Ferry $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 6 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Brandi Tilton $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 6 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Amy Bernard $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 7 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Kenneth Sund $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 7 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Mario Bonilla $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 8 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Dan Bourks $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 9 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Virginia Arnason $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 10 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan John M. Kershner $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 11 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Jeffrey (Wayne) Johnson $0.00 CEMETERY DISTRICT 11 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Gerald Tenkley $0.00 POINT ROBERTS PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Kathleen Pierce-Friedman $0.00 POINT ROBERTS PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 4-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Bill Zidel $0.00 POINT ROBERTS PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 4 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Mitch Friedman $0.00 POINT ROBERTS PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 1 Whatcom Commissioner Position 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Michael Cressy $0.00 BLAINE-BIRCH BAY PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jesse Creydt $0.00 BLAINE-BIRCH BAY PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jeffery Carrington $0.00 BLAINE-BIRCH BAY PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 2 Whatcom Commissioner Position 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan David Wilbrecht $0.00 LYNDEN REGIONAL PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 3 Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Ronald Van Soest $0.00 LYNDEN REGIONAL PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 3 Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Tyler (T.J.) Timmermans $0.00 LYNDEN REGIONAL PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT 3 Whatcom Commissioner Position 5 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Harvey Pelleboer $0.00 COLUMBIA VALLEY PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Carl McDaniel $0.00 COLUMBIA VALLEY PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Richard Whitson $0.00 COLUMBIA VALLEY PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Cindy Johnson $0.00 CHUCKANUT COMMUNITY FOREST PARK DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 3 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Hue Beattie $0.00 CHUCKANUT COMMUNITY FOREST PARK DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 4 2-year Unexpired term, Nonpartisan Ed Grumbine $0.00 CHUCKANUT COMMUNITY FOREST PARK DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 5 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Frank James $0.00 HOSPITAL DISTRICT 304 Skagit, Whatcom Commissioner Position 2 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Chuck Ruhl $0.00 HOSPITAL DISTRICT 304 Skagit, Whatcom Commissioner Position 4 6-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Jeri Kaufman $0.00 POINT ROBERTS PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT Whatcom Commissioner Position 1 6-year Short & Full term, Nonpartisan Noel Newbolt $0.00 SEDRO-WOOLLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 101 Skagit, Whatcom Director District 2 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Christina Jepperson $0.00 SEDRO-WOOLLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 101 Skagit, Whatcom Director District 3 4-year Regular term, Nonpartisan Danielle Baird Russell $0.00
According to Washington State law, “The name of a candidate for an office shall not appear on a ballot for that office unless … the candidate is, at the time the candidate’s declaration of candidacy is filed, properly registered to vote in the geographic area represented by the office.” Each office may include additional eligibility requirements for candidates.
For additional information, contact County Auditor Diana Bradrick at (360) 778-5105.