From Stark
Edie Gilliss, political director for Washington Conservation Voters, says anyone is welcome to display one of the group’s “Another Family Voting Against Coal Trains” signs, even if they are supporting Kelli Linville for Bellingham mayor.
Gilliss provided that assurance in an email, after I forwarded the WCV a complaint from Vanessa Blackburn, Linville’s campaign manager.
(The WCV has endorsed incumbent Mayor Dan Pike, partly because of his opposition to SSA Marine’s Gateway Pacific Terminal project that would export coal to China–coal that would travel through Bellingham on trains.)
Here is Blackburn’s emailed complaint, sent to WCV and copied to me:
“I had a Washington Conservation Voters volunteer come to my door this weekend (a very nice person, by the way), and I thanked her for volunteering and for distributing literature for WCV candidates. When I asked if I could have an anti-coal sign, she said volunteers were told they could not put anti-coal signs in yards that have Kelli Linville signs. I was surprised and deeply saddened by this, since Kelli Linville is also anti-coal, this is something I also care about, and this is an issue that will be facing our community long after this current election is over. Although the volunteer said she knew Kelli was anti-coal, this was what all volunteers were told and she was sorry. Over the weekend, I received several emails from Kelli supporters who were told the same thing by WCV and they found this shocking, offensive and angering.
Can you please explain to me why WCV would have a policy that is divisive and alienates many anti-coal supporters in Bellingham instead of one that builds consensus around this critically important issue and includes the entire community?”
The WCV’s Gilliss responded to Blackburn with an emailed apology and an invitation to her and anyone else who wants to display the anti-coal train signs. Blackburn provided me with a copy of that email and her reply to Gilliss:
“Thank you for your prompt response, and yes, I would like to pick up two anti-coal signs: One for myself, and one for Kelli Linville.”
In a separate email dialog with me, Gilliss said:
“Washington Conservation Voters wants EVERY candidate and elected official in Whatcom County to oppose coal exports. I’m not sure how many yard signs we have left to distribute, but I encourage all voters to ask the question, “where do you stand on a new coal dock from Cherry Point?”
to every local candidate.
Our organization is supporting Mayor Dan Pike in the mayor’s race, because he has clearly and unequivocally opposed the coal export terminal. We encourage Kelli Linville to do the same. She hasn’t.”
My followup question to Gilliss:
“This is what Linville wrote in her op-ed on July 13:
“”I do not support exporting coal or any other non-renewable resource.
If the proposed SSA Marine terminal at Cherry Point is proven to be a sole-purpose coal pier then I absolutely oppose it. I support and will continue to work for a multi-purpose terminal that is mitigated for rail impacts through Bellingham and meets stringent environmental standards.
I will vigorously engage in the scoping and permitting process from beginning to end to ensure our interests are represented.”"
What issues do you have with that statement?”
Gillis replied:
“Broadly speaking, Mayor Pike has been a champion to make sure the community isn’t impacted by toxic coal dust, traffic, and noise from coal trains. He has been a leader in opposing the terminal, working hand in hand with community leaders, other mayors, and public health experts.
We oppose exporting coal through Cherry Point regardless of the other materials that may be exported from that terminal. For us, this is not an argument about percentages—it’s about leadership and unequivocal opposition.”
As reported earlier, Mayor Pike’s unequivocal opposition was not immediate.
Nice try fellows but thousands of family wage jobs over two years and generating $57 million in tax revenue will mean a lot more than a few new trucks, a haircut and some people getting a possible housing up grade along with a school bus/police cruiser or two.
To say otherwise is a little disingenuous don’t ya think?
And another 430 jobs along with 10 mil in tax revenue thereafter might put a lot more than a few tires on those trucks and school buses/cruisers or even buy a latte or two to boot, don’t ya know!
Heck after getting a hair styled how about getting the nails done too!
AFY!!theheelotsheepdog!!!
Ed Simpson,
We can agree on one thing, that this is a coal port. Nothing more, nothing less.
Good for you for acknowledging this fact.
AW
Speaking of biggest bribes, I mean campaign donations, ever in City History.
I think Pike takes the cake at $19,038.00, conveniently undisclosed prior to the 2007 election so voter didn’t know. Courtesy of the Realtor QOL PAC.
Documented from a PDC complaint in 2008 over at dvpike.wordpress.com :
“In Whatcom County alone, RQL PAC failed to itemize in-kind contribution expenditures totaling $46,650 on seven direct mail political advertising pieces supporting 2007 candidates Sam Crawford, Larry Farr and Daniel Pike. The support was an in-kind contribution to each candidate – $12,874 for Crawford, $14,738 for Farr and $19,038 for Pike. The mailers were delivered to voters during the week of October 29 to November 2, 2007.”
Hi Andy and everyone following this thread,
First of all, you might see my blog post as “constant harassment of our good mayor”, but I feel it was a much needed fact-checking on his campaign piece. I see nothing inconsistent about working to protect people from the dangers of poorly maintained pipelines, and finding fault in Dan Pike’s campaign focus. I believe that yes, you should oppose Big Coal (as both Kelli and Dan do), but that there are also many many other city issues that should be examined. I am not a single issue voter.
I want my elected officials to change their minds when new facts emerge, but I find fault when it is new politics that change their minds, not new information.
Finally, I would hope that the Pike campaign would be talking to voters and discussing the issues rather than making personal attacks against me a priority, but once again, I am bound to be disappointed.
Hey Riley
You run a blog. So you put yourself in the public domain.
You dish it out but whine when someone calls you on it.
Poor baby, not all criticism is a personal attack
I’m hardly whining and feel any criticism of me is fair game. I just question Pike’s campaign’s priorities if this is the most important thing for them to be doing. I’m happy to go toe to toe with anyone on the issues. Or in this case, fact-checking misleading mailers.
Sounds like whining to me.
According to you “I’m hardly whining and FEEL ANY CRITICISM OF ME IS FAIR GAME.”
But in the last sentence of your previous entry you write, “Finally, I would hope that the Pike campaign would be talking to voters and discussing the issues RATHER THAN MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS ON ME A PRIORITY, but once again, I am bound to be disappointed.”
Still sounds like whining.
And you should be clear about who exactly from Dan Pike’s Campaign is besmirching your honor. Perhaps there are supporters of Dan Pike that disagree with you. But it seems to me that you mislead your readers by stating that Dan Pike’s Campaign is after you.
Actually, it just sounds like more whining.
@rubie, No it has never been city property but it would be easy to assume that. Mr. Vossbeck does have a lot of equipment similiar to our city shop three blocks away. In the past it was a raw milk dairy. I remember it well because the owner used local teenagers to bring in his hay crop. He always let us take an ice cold quart of milk for the walk home. Heaven.
@Camille, No you are correct about my being in that add. Your question seemed to asl if I was paid. The answer is still no. The other answer is still the same, I support any project that may bring jobs going through the permit process. If they fail to prove their project can pass all regulations then so be it. You, SSA and any other citizen or corporation has that right.