Election: Three-term Whatcom County Council member faces head of local GOP

Whatcom County Councilman Barry Buchanan is seeking a third straight term for one of two at-large seats on the council as he faces Misty Flowers, chair of the Whatcom Republicans.

Any registered voter in Whatcom County can vote in the at-large race. There are five County Council district representatives and 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, but the two major parties usually endorse candidates.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and must be postmarked or placed in a drop box by 8 p.m. Nov. 4 in Washington’s all-mail election.

Barry Buchanan

Buchanan, who lives in Bellingham, served seven years in the U.S. Navy, working on aircraft electronics and later became an engineer at Lockheed Martin, where his projects included the space shuttle and the Hubble Space Telescope. He was born in Bellingham and attended Bellingham schools, graduating from Bellingham High.

He served one term on the Bellingham City Council, from 2008-2012. He was elected to the County Council in 2013, representing one of two seats in District 1. In 2017, he won one of the two at-large seats and was re-elected in 2021.

Much of Buchanan’s focus in recent years has been on planning a new jail that Whatcom County voters would approve. A funding measure passed in 2023.

Buchanan has been a keen advocate for jail diversion programs and other efforts to reduce incarceration, including mental health and substance abuse treatment.

“As chair of the Whatcom County Incarceration Reduction and Prevention Taskforce Steering Committee, I have helped lead our county toward a fairer, more effective, and more streamlined criminal justice system,” Buchanan said at his campaign website.

In addition, he chairs the Whatcom County Incarceration Reduction and Prevention Taskforce Steering Committee and represents the County Council on several community boards and committees, including the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force, the Justice Project Oversight and Planning Committee, Justice Project Finance and Facility Advisory Board, Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Board, the North Sound Behavioral Health Executive Committee, and the Multi-Agency Coordination group.

“The people of Whatcom County rightly expect their leaders to finish what they start and keep their promises to voters. At this stage in my career, that’s my focus: seeing profound solutions like our Justice Project (the jail) and the Healthy Children’s Fund — through to the end,” Buchanan said in his ballot statement.

Buchanan is endorsed by Lummi Nation and the Nooksack Tribe, the 40th and 42nd district Democrats and the Whatcom Democrats. In addition, he is endorsed by several unions, including the Bellingham-Whatcom Firefighters, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 231 and the Northwest Central Labor Council. He is supported by the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations and also Planned Parenthood and the Alliane for Gun Responsibility. He is also backed by the Whatcom County Association of Realtors and the Associated General Contractors of Washington.

He raised $18,871 for his campaign through Oct. 12, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. A little more than half that total was from individual contributions.

Misty Flowers

Flowers is chair of the Whatcom Republicans and is known as a musician, a holistic wellness coach and an anti-vaccine activist.

She ran unsuccessfully for the Whatcom County Council in 2021 and lost a bid for county executive in 2023. Also in 2023, Flowers was rejected for an appointment to the Whatcom County Public Health Advisory Board because of her vocal opposition to vaccines and her public resistance to COVID-19 health requirements, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.

Flowers attended the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts, Whatcom Community College and Shasta Community College, according to her candidate statement.

In addition, she works with Be Brave Washington, an anti-vaccine organization.

At her website, Flowers called Whatcom County government “bloated and unaccountable” and called for lower property taxes.

“My engagement in the local County and City Councils for the last 4 years has provided me with experience and insight to truly represent the people of Whatcom County At-Large,” Flowers said in her candidate statement.

“I am committed to revitalizing Whatcom County’s economy and restoring housing stability. As we face rising homelessness and deteriorating infrastructure, my sensible and compassionate leadership can reinvigorate restricted job opportunities, create new local jobs, and advocate for accessible housing solutions. Moreover, I am dedicated to safeguarding Whatcom County’s stunning natural beauty, finding balance between industry and environmental concerns,” Flowers said.

Flowers is endorsed by the Whatcom County Republican Party and several local officials, including Whatcom County Councilman Tyler Byrd, former Whatcom County Undersheriff Doug Chadwick, former Whatcom County medical examiner Dr. Gary Goldfogel, Charter Review Commission member Hannah Ordos and Ferndale City Councilman Jon Mutchler.

Flowers raised $14,580 for her campaign through Oct. 12, according to the Public Disclosure Commission. A little more than half that total was from individual contributions.

This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Robert Mittendorf

The Bellingham Herald

360-756-2805

Robert Mittendorf covers civic issues, weather, traffic and how people are coping with the high cost of housing for The Bellingham Herald. A journalist since 1984, he also served 22 years as a volunteer firefighter for South Whatcom Fire Authority before retiring in 2025.