Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009

Blethen has proven passion, dedication

John Blethen is tireless and talented in building community brick-by-brick.

In the 1970s and 1980s he started New Whatcom Interiors, a business with a reputation for quality work and a quality workplace. While focusing on business and family, John also co-chaired PTA and helped find matching funds for improvements to nearby Fairhaven Library.

From 1990 to 2009, John has served as a community leader in constructive processes and design solutions for major transportation projects. Successful design connected the Bellingham Cruise Terminal/Amtrak/Greyhound transportation hub to Interstate 5 - addressing regional transportation needs while protecting neighborhood residential areas and historic Fairhaven commercial district.

He also served as a community leader on three successful Greenways campaigns. Served as member of Bellingham parks and recreation committee and current chairs the Greenways advisory committee.

He was one of 12 community leaders selected for the city- and port-sponsored Waterfront Futures Group to develop a long-term vision for the entire Bellingham Bay waterfront. He served on the subsequent master plan phase Waterfront Advisory Group once the Port of Bellingham acquired the former Georgia-Pacific mill site. He funded additional design work to help develop community consensus on master plan design.

We need John's experience, dedication and passion on the port commission.

Leslie Langdon

Bellingham