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POSTED: Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009

County Councilman Bob Kelly resigns, will seek Nooksack Tribal Council seat in 2010

Whatcom County Councilman Bob Kelly resigned his District 1 seat effective Thursday, Nov. 26, and now council members are seeking applications to appoint a replacement.

Kelly, who is only halfway through his first term after the 2007 election in which he replaced Councilman Dan McShane, said it’s time for him to move on.

He said he’s been neglecting his duties working for the Nooksack Tribe, which he is also a member of, and that he intends to seek a Tribal Council seat in March 2010.

County Council members quickly set a timeframe to choose a replacement. Applications are being accepted through Dec. 7, and the council will make nominations, discuss possible candidates and consider making an appointment Dec. 8.

The council is legally required to nominate a replacement at a regular meeting, and their last of the year is on that day. They also have just 30 days after applications are in to select someone, or the pick falls to County Executive Pete Kremen.

“Bob’s a bright fellow and I think he contributed a lot and brought some better understanding to tribal issues and how the county government relates to tribal government,” said Councilwoman Laurie Caskey-Schreiber.

Councilman Sam Crawford also was complimentary.

“I think Bob has done a great job, he’s become a good friend,” Crawford said. “He represents a political perspective that I don’t necessarily always share, but I believe his heart was in the right place and he’s a man of integrity and I have nothing but respect for him.”

Kelly made his announcement at the end of a six-hour County Council meeting Tuesday, Nov. 24. It actually was about 1 a.m. Wednesday when he spoke, forcing those in attendance who had heard murmurs of a potential resignation to speculate for the duration of the marathon meeting. Crawford said in discussions with Kelly that they had different views of the way being on the council worked for them.

“He had issues regarding how things got done from a legislative perspective of both tribal and federal governments,” Crawford said, “That the wheels of change turn slowly in Whatcom County in making law with the processes we have, that he’d express some frustration.”

Crawford believes Kelly didn’t find the position fulfilling the way other councilors do.

“I mean that in a positive way, that I think Bob realized that being on the County Council was not going to be a really personally fulfilling and rewarding experience for him. I get it. I guess in a way, a person would have to know Bob like I’ve gotten to know Bob to understand that.”

County Councilman Carl Weimer said he appreciated Kelly’s work on the council as well as his overall philosophy, and that they split on some votes though they were similar in most decisions. They also had lunch together during council meeting days. But Weimer said Kelly’s issues with the council were obvious.

“He struggled almost from the get-go. I think he wasn’t clear on what he was getting into so he made noises that he wasn’t happy and wasn’t sure he was going to get through his whole term for a while. So it wasn’t a huge surprise,” Weimer said. “I had hoped it was just venting, but especially after the elections it was apparent that he’d had enough.”

Former Planning Commissioner Dave Pros said he would apply for the seat, though he’s on a tight timeline because he leaves for vacation Saturday.

Former County Councilman Dan McShane, who was narrowly defeated to retake a District 1 seat by political newcomer and small businesswoman Kathy Kershner, said he’s considering applying for the spot.

Qualified candidates must live within the district, and McShane and Pros do.

“I certainly felt like I was in a position personally and financially for me that it would be OK to be on the council again,” McShane said of his run on the council, though he still wasn’t sure if he was ready to go through a process again. He’ll take the post-Thanksgiving weekend to make a decision.