Whatcom County voters approve library levy; Council incumbent likely ousted

Whatcom County voters outside of Bellingham appear to have approved a property tax increase for the county’s library system in Tuesday’s primary election. Preliminary results show the measure garnered support from 55.6% of voters. A simple majority is required for the levy’s passage.

Elections officials will update results daily in the afternoon until all votes are counted.

Library officials told The Herald they were anticipating an operating deficit of more than $1 million next year without the levy.

The levy will raise the effective property tax rate from its current 26 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 42 cents, a level that voters approved in a 2009 levy when library officials last asked for a tax increase.

Whatcom County libraries aren’t part of any government agency. The library system is its own taxing district and is governed by an independent board. Its 2025 budget is $14.2 million.

Whatcom County Council District 3

Preliminary results also show Whatcom County Council District 3 incumbent Tyler Byrd of Sudden Valley likely will not advance to the general election.

District 3 encompasses rural areas north, east and south of Bellingham. Byrd is seeking a third consecutive term. It includes the cities of Everson, Nooksack and Sumas, along with the foothill communities of Kendall, Maple Falls and Glacier, the South Fork Valley communities of Acme, Clipper and Van Zandt, and Geneva and Sudden Valley east of Bellingham.

District 3 is one of five County Council districts. There are also two at-large members on the seven-member council. The County Council makes laws, appoints members of advisory committees and controls the purse through its budget authority. All County Council races are nonpartisan. Only registered voters in District 3 were able to vote in this race.

Under Washington state’s primary rules, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the Nov. 4 general election.

Jessica Rienstra of Nooksack, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, received the most support with 4,088 votes (48.7%), while Kyle Christensen finished second with 1,959 votes (23.3%). Byrd received 1,743 votes (20.8%). Daniel Probst of Acme received 579 votes (6.9%).

Whatcom County Council District 2

The primary election for the open Whatcom County Council District 2 seat, which covers northern Bellingham, including Columbia, Silver Beach and other neighborhoods, is between three challengers. Its current council representative, Todd Donovan, opted not to run for a third consecutive term.

Elizabeth Boyle of Bellingham drew 4,409 votes (55%) for a commanding primary election victory.

Boyle will face either Maya Morales or Mike Cullum in the general election. Just one vote separates Morales and Cullum for second place after initial results released Tuesday night.

District 2 is one of five County Council districts. Its current council representative, Todd Donovan, is not running for a third consecutive term. There are also two at-large members on the seven-member council.

Port of Bellingham

Port of Bellingham Commission District 2 incumbent Ken Bell received more than 60% of votes in a three-way primary.

Bell will face business owner Carly James in the November general election. James finished second in the race with 4384 votes (34.2%), while comedian and LGBTQ supporter Kaylin Bosley received 587 votes.

There are three non-partisan Port Commissioner positions that each represent a different district in Whatcom County. Commissioners serve four-year terms.

Looking for something else?

Visit our Live Election Results page for all Whatcom County and statewide tallies from Tuesday’s primary.

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM.