State Senator Dale Brandland (R-42) announced his retirement on the floor of the Senate this week, setting in motion a number of announcements from other legislators and candidates scrambling to claim first dibs on the open seat. Rep. Doug Ericksen (R-42) immediately announced he would give up his seat in the House and run for the Senate seat in the 42nd District. This leaves Ericksen's House seat open.

Democrats gathered Sat. March 6 at various locations around the county to discuss upcoming elections and debate their platform. These Grassroots Strategy Sessions were modeled after the Precinct caucuses from 2008, and revolved around revising and updating the Whatcom County platform.

About twice a month these guys come from Seattle to stand in front of the Lynden Post Office to troll for talkers.  Alex Abundis, Alyce Werkema, above, and John Gillies, (not pictured) stood in the rain to protest this rude, crude display.  "We visited with many people – most of whom thanked us for being there to honor honorable speech," said Werkema. They hope to be there again any time the LaRouche people return to Lynden.

US Senate – Incumbent Patty Murray ,Democrat
US House of Representatives, Dist 2 – incumbent Rick Larsen, Democrat
State 40th Legislative District Representative – incumbent Dave Quall, Democrat, retiring

Plan ahead to participate in important Democratic Party decisions, a well as campaigns that we support:

March 29: Deadline for mail and online voter registration and in-state transfers for April 27th Special Election on the WTA Levy. 

April 7: Ballots mailed out to voters for april 27 WTA Levy.

April 10, 10am - 3 pm? – Whatcom County Democratic Convention (adopt the County Platform) and Legislative District Caucuses (elect delegates to the State Democratic Convention), Shuksan Middle School, Bellingham.

April 27: WTA Levy election

By Dan McShane
Democrats have been carefully following the new County Council that began serving in January 2010. The Council tilted to the Republican side at the end of December when County Executive Pete Kremen appointed Republican Ward Nelson to the Council. We quickly found out what our Republican County Council actually values when Mr. Nelson along with fellow Republicans Kathy Kershner and Sam Crawford voted against county funding for our local food bank.

Whatcom Democrats voted to endorse the WTA Transit Levy at their February membership meeting. Together, we believe that a strong transit system serves or community best. Let me turn this over to what Jason Heck, campaign manager for the WTA Levy had to say to the body last week because it deserves repeated:

With State Representative Dave Quall's retirement at the end of the year, the 40th Legislative District Democrats are gearing up for their nominating convention and endorsement meeting. The Candidates Committee is holding its first meeting this week, as is the Nominating Convention Rules Committee. The Nominating Convention will be held on May 8 at the Croation Cultutal Center in Anacortes. This convention will determine the Democratic Party's official nominee to replace Quall. Only PCOs from the 40th LD can vote at the nominating convention.