Oath of office ceremony welcomes new era of Whatcom County Council
A Whatcom County Council oath of office ceremony Monday ushered in a new era of local government, swearing in two new council members and creating a 5-2 liberal majority, although the positions are considered nonpartisan.
Returning council members Kaylee Galloway and Barry Buchanan were sworn in alongside the two first-time council members, Elizabeth Boyle and Jessica Rienstra.
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu welcomed the new and returning council members at the ceremony on Jan. 12. He offered words of advice and told council members that one of the most important things they can do in their role is listen.
“Good ideas come from all corners of the county — from all kinds of people and all kinds of perspectives,” Sidhu said.
Council member Boyle replaces three-term council member Todd Donovan as the Council District 2 representative. Rienstra replaces two-term council member Tyler Byrd as the Council District 3 representative.
Council member Galloway was re-elected to serve her second term on the Council representing District 1. She ran unopposed in November and her term ends January 2030.
Council member Buchanan was re-elected to serve his fourth term on the council as one of the at-large representatives. His term ends January 2030.
The seven-member council includes Kaylee Galloway (District 1), Elizabeth Boyle (District 2), Jessica Rienstra (District 3), Mark Stremler (District 4), Ben Elenbaas (District 5), Barry Buchanan (At-Large Representative A) and Jon Scanlon (At-Large Representative B).
The County Council’s duty is to adopt and enact ordinances and resolutions. Council members are elected to:
- Adopt plans for the present and future development of the county.
- Conduct public hearings on matters of public concern.
- Create county government policy.
- Create land use rules.
- Enact public safety laws.
- Establish the compensation for all county officers and employees and to provide for the reimbursement of expenses.
- Establish, combine, and abolish non-elective administrative offices and executive departments and to establish their powers and responsibilities, except as otherwise provided for in the Whatcom County Home Rule Charter.
- Levy taxes, appropriate revenue, and adopt the county budget.
- Set speed limits, no-shooting zones, and animal control regulations.
