Bellingham voters likely to consider changing the length of term of City Council seat
Bellingham City Council members took the first step Monday toward making the panel’s at-large seat a four-year term.
In a committee meeting Monday afternoon, council members voted 6-0-1 to have the city’s administration write an ordinance that could be submitted to the voters. Newly elected at-large Councilman Jace Cotton abstained.
Such a measure will likely be ready for the November election, Council President Dan Hammill told The Bellingham Herald in a phone interview Monday.
“I don’t see a reason to delay. I think that there should be parity among all positions on the council,” Hammill said.
“It’s never made sense to me to have one person running every two years. I would rather have one person focused on making good policy,” he said.
The Bellingham City Council has seven members — six who represent areas of the city called wards and one at-large member.
All the ward seats carry four-year terms but the at-large seat is a two-year term.
Wards make a difference only in primary elections. In the general election, voters citywide can vote for the candidates running for every ward. Candidates must live in the ward they represent.
The job pays $69,010 annually as of Jan. 1, according to the city’s website.
This story was originally published January 30, 2024 at 12:00 PM.
