New Bellingham City Council makes history with its diversity
Bellingham made history Monday night, Jan. 3, installing the first two Black members of its City Council in a special online meeting.
Edwin “Skip” Williams was sworn in for the 4th Ward seat and Kristina Michele Martens was sworn in for the at-large seat on the seven-member panel.
In remarks after she took the oath of office, Martens said that the racial milestone was “quite the door and ceiling to get through” because she is also the first Black woman on the council — which has a majority of women.
“I’m just honored that I was the person, one of the people, in the position when the time was right to have the support of the community,” Martens said.
“I’m just hoping to be able to bridge some gaps and build community together,” Martens said.
Martens has played a key role in a local social justice movement that gained a voice in mid-2020, after the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and other people of color at the hands of white police officers and vigilantes.
Williams, a former teacher and union official, also acknowledged the moment.
“I have lived here for 30 years, and I see this journey that I am about to partake as one of the most challenging that I have ever had,” Williams said. “And I feel like this is the greatest privilege I ever could have achieved, serving the community members of our city.”
Also sworn in Monday were returning Councilmembers Hollie Huthman and Michael Lilliquist.
Huthman, who had been the at-large council member with a two-year term, now holds the four-year 2nd Ward seat vacated by Gene Knutson, who didn’t run in 2021 after nearly three decades on the council.
Lilliquist won a fourth term for the 6th Ward in November.
Williams replaced Pinky Vargas, who didn’t seek a third term, and Martens replaced Huthman.
Roxanne Murphy, a member of the Nooksack Tribe, was the first person of color on the council when she was elected to the at-large seat in 2013.
Murphy resigned from the council during her third term in 2018 to become assistant city manager of Valdez, Alaska. She’s now manager of Kodiak Island Borough in Alaska.
“It’s certainly a momentous time,” said Council President Hannah Stone. “We look forward to the year ahead.”
In prepared remarks, Lilliquist urged Bellingham residents to trust that the council is working for everyone’s benefit.
“We face huge systemic problems, decades — if not centuries — in the making. Our sleeves should be rolled up and our minds need to be open,” Lilliquist said.
“Democracy itself is under attack by short-sighted people who want their own way, who twist facts and spread lies,” he said. “But I believe in democracy. I believe in the promise of self-government. I ask you to renew your faith that together we are the hope we seek.”
Monday night’s swearing-in ceremony was a formality because the official election paperwork had been filed, Stone said, and it allowed Martens and Williams to participate in their first City Council meeting earlier Monday.
At that meeting, Stone was re-elected council president, tasked with running City Council meetings and supervising a legislative assistant and other city employees who serve the council.
“Thank you,” Stone told the council. “It’s a mixed blessing but I appreciate the support.”
Lilliquist was elected council president pro-tem and will run meetings in Stone’s absence. Lisa Anderson was elected mayor pro-tem, and will assume the duties of mayor in Mayor Seth Fleetwood’s absence.
Also at the earlier meeting, the council made committee assignments and selected committee heads, and discussed tasks for the year ahead in broad terms, including preparing for eventual in-person meetings and selecting a new police chief.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 11:07 AM.
