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Along with a slate of state initiatives and races up and down the ballot, Whatcom County voters will have the opportunity to weigh in on the addition of a few words to the county charter that would stop county officials from holding any other elected position, no matter the jurisdiction.
The charter, in its conflict of interest section, currently prohibits elected county officials (council members and the executive, assessor, auditor, treasurer and prosecuting attorney) from holding other offices or employment within county government. The proposed amendment expands that prohibition so that county electeds also cannot hold any other elected position, such as municipal or state offices.
Former Whatcom County Council member Kathy Kershner, Whatcom Democratic Party chair Andrew Reding, and District 3 charter review commission candidate John Westerfield prepared the argument in favor of the amendment in the Whatcom County voter’s guide.
They wrote: “Persons holding two (or more) public offices cannot fully and adequately perform the duties of each office. They have less time and attention for each and are more likely to miss discussions and votes. There will sometimes be conflicts of interest between the offices they hold. Multiple office holding also reduces the number of people in public service.”
Whatcom County Republican Party board member Doris Smith penned the argument against the amendment, stressing that if it passes, county officials can no longer serve as precinct committee officers.
There have been past instances of a Whatcom County elected official seeking a second office. In 2022, council member Ben Elenbaas sought to hold the District 42 Senate seat while retaining his council seat. When Sen. Doug Ericksen died in 2021 after being hospitalized with COVID-19, the county council was tasked with appointing his replacement. Elenbaas was one of three finalists for the appointment but the majority of his colleagues on the council chose Simon Sefzik over Elenbaas in part due to discomfort around his intent to hold both offices simultaneously.
Later in 2022 Elenbaas ran for state senate and again would not commit to resigning from the county council if he became a senator. He did not proceed past the primary election, and Democratic candidate Sharon Shewmake eventually won the seat.
In late 2023, the county council voted 6-1 in favor of bringing the conflict of interest amendment to voters. Elenbaas voted against it, saying he believed only the charter review commission or citizenry should propose charter amendments.
All Whatcom County voters are eligible to vote on the proposed charter amendment.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
