Whatcom jail sales tax almost even; Louws, Briscoe leading

Whatcom County voters were almost evenly split over a sales tax increase to pay for and operate a new jail.

The tax, which would add 20 cents to a $100 purchase, had 51 percent votes in support and 49 percent against, according to early ballot counts Tuesday night, Nov. 3. Many ballots remain to be counted; an updated ballot count is expected Wednesday afternoon.

County Executive Jack Louws, who has pushed for a new jail, had a wide lead over Joy Gilfilen in his bid for re-election. Gilfilen ran a campaign focused on her opposition to the jail plan. Louws had 71 percent of the vote compared to Gilfilen’s 29, according to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office.

In the race for an open spot on the three-member Port of Bellingham Commission, commercial fisherman Bobby Briscoe was leading Ferndale Mayor Gary Jensen 55 percent to 45 percent.

The political battle over control of Whatcom County Council elections was a mixed bag in early results. Conservatives had backed multiple measures trying to stack the deck in favor of rural voters, while progressives countered with propositions that would let Bellingham voters have more sway. The early results showed ideas from both sides narrowly passing.

However, one of the most controversial proposals, setting term limits for county executive and council members, was passing by a huge margin, 70 percent to 30 percent.

Detailed stories about these and other races on the Nov. 3 ballot will be posted online shortly, along with a chart of ballot counts. For updated ballot numbers, check the Auditor’s results page.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 8:29 PM with the headline "Whatcom jail sales tax almost even; Louws, Briscoe leading."