Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen opposes a proposal to designate 280 acres in the South Fork Valley for future gravel mining and said he'd veto it.

If he could.

Because of a schedule in county code, Kremen, who isn't running for re-election to his seat, won't be in the executive's office if and when the County Council approves the designation. But he could be on the County Council by then.

The controversial proposal could be a factor in this November's general election, when the executive and three council positions are up for election. Neighbors, many of whom are farmers, strongly oppose the mining designation, and some Bellingham residents spoke at a hearing against mining the area, which they fear could reverse salmon-recovery efforts.

The County Council on Aug. 9 narrowly voted in favor of putting a mineral-resources designation on the land, which is on Eddy's Mountain off Doran and Bowman roads near Acme. Council members Sam Crawford, Kathy Kershner, Bill Knutzen and Tony Larson voted for it; Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann and Carl Weimer voted against it.

With the designation, the company, Concrete Nor'West, could apply for mining operations.

Kremen said he's received at least 120 emails and comments from residents opposed to the designation. "I don't think I've received anything in support of it," Kremen said. "The testimony that came from the public was overwhelmingly in opposition, for various reasons."

But he won't get to veto it. County code says the designation, which is a change to the county's 20-year growth plan, must be considered at the same time the council considers other growth-plan changes. The code says that should occur on or around Feb. 1.

So, if the council approves it, it won't land on the executive's desk until next year, after Kremen is done as executive. Either State Sen. Doug Ericksen or Jack Louws, former mayor of Lynden, will be executive at that time. Both men running for executive said they wouldn't commit to signing or vetoing the ordinance at this time.

Ericksen said it's difficult to comment on a hypothetical. If the election in November changes the County Council make-up, that could change what the final product looks like, he said.

He would also need more details on this particular proposal, he said.

"I can't commit today on how I would act on it," he said.

Louws said in a statement he's not someone "who makes a snap decision to try to gain political favor." In an email, he said he's still reviewing information on the issue and talking to people on both sides. He has a meeting scheduled with South Fork Valley community members to hear their concerns, he said.

"It would be premature for me to take a position when I haven't completed my due diligence," he wrote.

County Council races could affect the decision. Three council members are up for election: Brenner, Crawford and Larson. Brenner voted against the designation in August, but Crawford and Larson voted for it.

Alan Black, who is running against Brenner, said he would vote against the designation and is "totally opposed" to it.

Kremen, who is running against Larson for his seat on the council, said he'll vote against the designation if elected.

Christina Maginnis, who is running against Crawford, said that if the council considers the proposal with the same lack of important environmental information it had in August, she'd vote against it. Also, she'd vote against it if it wasn't part of a comprehensive planning effort for mineral resources countywide, she said.