Dear Watchers

Whatcom Watch filed complaints with the Public Disclosure Commission over the failure of six candidates and five committees to file financial disclosure forms.

The public disclosure law requires all candidates and committees to file a registration statement; the reporting category has two options: mini reporting (spending $3,500 or less) or full reporting (spending over $3,500). All of the candidates and committees that filed a registration statement selected full reporting (except Whatcom Conservation Voters), which requires the periodic filing of disclosure forms listing contributions and expenditures. Whatcom Conservation Voters left the reporting category blank, but they reported expenditures over $3,500 so they fall in the full reporting category, which requires the periodic filing of disclosure forms listing contribution and expenditures.

Better Community Solutions
Failed to file reports on 9/13, 10/18, 11/1 and 12/12/05.

Sharon Crozier (Candidate for Bellingham City Council)
Failed to file reports on 9/13 and 10/10/05.

Richard J. Maneval (Candidate for Bellingham City Council)
Failed to file reports on 9/13 and 10/10/05.

Jeffrey Morris (40th District Representative)
Failed to file report on 12/10/04.

L. Ward Nelson (Whatcom County Councilmember)
Failed to file reports on 6/10, 7/10, 8/30, 9/13, 10/18, 11/1 and 12/12/05.

Mac Setter (Candidate for Superior Court Judge)
Failed to file reports on 10/26/04 and 12/10/04.

Whatcom Conservation Voters
Failed to file reports on 10/14/03, 10/28/03 and 12/10/03.

Whatcom County Democratic Party
Failed to file reports since 3/31/05.

Whatcom County Realtors
Failed to file any forms with the Public Disclosure Commisssion.

Whatcom County Residents for Better Government
Failed to file reports on 9/13, 10/18, 11/1 and 12/12/05.

Dear Watchers,

The article in the December issue regarding the opposing Greenways levy proposals was very informative and appreciated. It is extremely unfortunate that we have these two opposing views regarding something that this community really does need to come together on. In that regard I found the idea that “neither group wants to compromise” alarming—for compromise they must.

I would like to offer my opinion regarding who here needs to compromise. The Greenways Legacy group proposes a $60 million levy, of which over one-third is devoted to acquiring a single 85 acre parcel, whose development value has really placed it out of reach of reasonable public preservation efforts. Take into consideration that the preservation of the entire 25,000 acre Loomis State Forest required significantly less funds, all of which were privately raised. I would wager that Governors Point—another privately held plot of land with significant wildlife value awaiting future development—could be acquired for significantly less than is proposed for Chuckanut Ridge.

The march of habitat destroying developments in this county unfortunately continues virtually unabated, and I know a lot of Whatcom Watch readers would really like to put a stop to most if not all of them—but to ask the voters and taxpayers to fork over this kind of money for a single parcel that has had its current zoning and obvious development value for some time, I think is a bit unreasonable.

Do we really want wildlife corridors? Why don’t we work with the developers—possibly purchasing a portion of the property—to provide the needed wildlife corridors between Chuckanut Mountain and South Bellingham. If we do want to purchase more of the property, let’s raise private funds to do so rather than asking the taxpayer to foot the bill.

As someone who grew up in South Bellingham, I hate to see the Chuckanut Ridge development proceed as much as or more than anyone else. However, it pains me even more to see a divisive campaign that may well result in the end of future Greenways. For that reason, I hope compromise comes soon.