Primary: Three seek County Council seat

by the Foothills Gazette
COUNTY – Whatcom County voters received ballots this week for primary election on Tuesday, August 17.
Three candidates are seeking the Whatcom County Council District 1 seat. Following the Top 2 Primary, the two with the most votes will advance to the general election in November.
The candidates are Acme resident Theresa Sygitowicz, Bellingham resident Jean Melious, and Tony Larson, also of Bellingham.
Sygitowicz, an east county farmer and former small business owner, has worked for 17 years for PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Hospital. Until recently, she served as an EMT and volunteer firefighter in Whatcom County Fire District 16, where she served for over 15 years. Her website is www.theresa4council.com and can be reached by phone at 318-4565.
Melious, 52, is an associate professor at Western Washington University associate professor, and land-use and environmental law attorney. She has been a member of the Whatcom County Planning Commission since 2007, serving as chairwoman in 2009 and 2010. Other community involvement has included the Bellingham Historic Preservation Commission, Bellingham Community Development Advisory Board, and coached high school students in debate. Her website is VoteforJean.com and she can be reached at 714-1459.
Larson, 46, is the publisher of the Northwest Business Monthly and former owner of the Bellingham Bells baseball team. His community involvement includes being the past chairman of Northwest Private Industry Council, past president of WWU Alumni Board of Directors, and work with United Way,  the chamber of commerce, convention and visitors bureau and economic development council. His website is www.Getwhatcomworking.com.
Statements from the candidates can be found within the voters pamphlet circulated by the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office, or watch for candidate statements online at www.foothillsgazette.com.
Any registered voter who has not received a ballot or needs a replacement one, or person who would like to register to vote, should contact the Auditor’s office at 676-6742.
Additional information is available online at www.whatcomcounty.us by clicking on Auditor, and reviewing the election timeline and information section.

SCHEDULE
Ballots for the Aug. 17 primary were mailed on Thursday, July 29. The deadline for in-person registration to vote for the Aug. 17 primary is Aug. 9. The deadline to file as a file write in candidate for the Aug. 17 primary is Aug. 16. Any voter who has not received a ballot, or needs a replacement one, should contact the Auditor’s office at 676-6742.