Whatcom County Council names replacement for Sen. Ericksen
Whatcom County Council members selected Simon Sefzik to finish the term of state Sen. Doug Ericksen, who died Dec. 17 after a five-week battle with COVID-19.
Sefzik was chosen on a 4-2 vote as the council met in special session Tuesday, Jan. 11, and was immediately sworn in.
“I’m honored to be selected and now the hard work begins. I want to listen and lead well. And I will listen to all people — especially if we disagree,” Sefzik told The Bellingham Herald in a text message.
Councilmembers Todd Donovan, Barry Buchanan, Carol Frazey and Kaylee Galloway voted for Sefzik, and councilmembers Kathy Kershner and Tyler Byrd voted for Ben Elenbass, a member of the County Council who was one of the nominees.
Elenbaas recused himself from the selection process and turned his camera off, saying he would respond only when called upon.
Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, welcomed Sefzik to the Legislature.
“We are looking forward to having Simon join our team, and continue the great tradition of leadership established by Sen. Doug Ericksen on energy, agriculture and water issues,” Braun said in an emailed statement.
The Legislature started its 60-day 2022 session Monday, Jan. 10, in Olympia.
Legislators, staff, and media must have a negative COVID-19 test to be allowed into the House and Senate galleries.
Sefzik was given these committee assignments: Health and Long-Term Care, Higher Education and Workforce Development, and Housing and Local Government.
Sefzik was one of three candidates that the Whatcom County Republican Party submitted to replace Ericksen, R-Ferndale.
Ericksen represented the 42nd Legislative District that includes northern Bellingham and northern Whatcom County for more than two decades — from 1998-2010 in the state House and from 2010-2021 in the state Senate.
He was a Republican, so under state law, the local GOP organization submitted three candidates for the County Council to consider.
Replacement legislators must face a confirmation vote in the same year as their selection, but Ericksen’s term ends this year so the seat is open anyway.
Candidates’ names were disclosed Dec. 31:
▪ Sefzik, 22, of Ferndale, is a recent graduate of Patrick Henry College, a conservative Christian school in northeast Virginia. He interned in Congress and at the White House in 2020 and 2021.
▪ Ben Elenbass, who represents the council’s 5th District, encompassing western Whatcom County. He works at BP Cherry Point refinery and is a farmer.
▪ Tawsha Dykstra Thompson, a former Bellingham Police sergeant. Thompson left the department in December 2021, but didn’t cite a reason for leaving on her resume and didn’t respond to The Bellingham Herald’s question about her reason for leaving.
All three submitted answers to questionnaires Friday, Jan. 7, and they were each given 3 minutes Tuesday to speak during the selection process.
Elenbaas has said that he wouldn’t resign his council position if he were the nominee, and that he would run for the Senate seat in the August primary.
Members of the Legislature can hold concurrent nonpartisan elected positions, and at least two Washington legislators have done so.
But all four council members who voted for Sefzik said that Elenbaas’ decision to keep both his County Council position and the Senate seat if he were the nominee was troubling for them.
“It’s a hard thing for me to get past,” Donovan said.
Councilwoman Galloway said it would take a “superhuman” effort to do well in both positions, and she said she was drawn to Sefzik’s youthful enthusiasm.
This story was originally published January 11, 2022 at 12:32 PM.
