Coming August 24 Online:
Forum for 42nd District Senator and PUD Commissioner
At 12:00 p.m., August 24, the Bellingham City Club will be hosting its next virtual meeting live.
See below for more information about this program.
Registration in advance is recommended; click here.
Registration closes at midnight, August 22.
You may also join the meeting by going to the Bellingham City Club website on August 24.
On Tuesday before the meeting, registrants will receive an email with instructions on how to join the meeting.
Sharon Shewmake (D) and Simon Sefzik (R), the top two vote-getters in the four-person primary, are now the contenders for the Senate seat in the 42nd District. In 2022 the Whatcom County Council appointed Mr. Sefzik to finish out the late Doug Ericksen’s unexpired term. Ms. Shewmake has served two terms as a 42nd District representative in the State Legislature.
Jaime Arnett and Eric Davidson are competing for the Commissioner 3 seat, Public Utility District No. 1.
Jaime Arnett grew up in Whatcom County and attended Blaine High School and Western Washington University, earning her degree in English Literature in 2005. She is the Executive Director of Animals as Natural Therapy in Bellingham, running a small farm that provides animal-assisted therapy to youth and veterans. Jaime grew up in a fishing family and previously worked as the Administrative Executive for Boundary Fish Company in Blaine. Her work in both fishing and farming gives her a unique perspective on the delicate balance between the two industries, the public, and their needs for fresh water to sustain their futures. Jaime is also a former Blaine City Council Member, appointed in 2019, where she had oversight of the Public Works Department, including municipal electric. She hopes to bring both her experience in executive-level leadership and understanding of the unique needs of our community to her position on the Public Utilities District Commission.
Simon Sefzik (R), grew up in Whatcom County and attended Whatcom Community College. He graduated with honors from Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in American Politics and Policy Studies. Sefzik’s interest in government led him to intern for the U.S. House of Representatives and the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and to a full-time staff position with the White House Management Office. Involved in competitive speech and debate at the high school and college levels, Sefzik has assisted in coaching students in public speaking and has worked as a camp counselor teaching courses in economics and history
Sharon Shewmake (D) is a professor of environmental economics, urban economics, and energy policy at Western Washington University in Bellingham, and a children’s book author, spouse, and mother of two young boys. She completed Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and in Environmental Science and Policy at Duke University, and continued her education at the University of California at Davis, earning her Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics. Before moving to Washington, Sharon taught environmental economics, econometrics, labor economics, and conservation policy at UC-Davis and Vanderbilt University, and in Botswana (through the Experiment in International Living). She has represented Whatcom County in the House for 2 terms.