Longtime Bellingham community leader Tim Douglas begins his year-long term as Mayor on Wed. Nov. 1, filling the remaining term of Mark Asmundson whose last day in office was Oct. 31. Douglas was sworn in to the position of Mayor in a small private ceremony last week, and began attending key meetings this week.
Douglas brings significant higher education and state and local
government experience to the interim position. An experienced government
leader, Douglas served as Bellingham's mayor from 1984 through 1995,
directed the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development,
and was Peace Corps country director in Moscow.
Since his return to Bellingham, Douglas has remained an active community
leader, most recently involved with Bellingham's Greenways and library
expansion. He has served on the Board of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy
Communities and the Board of Trustees for the Bellingham Public Library.
In remarks made after he was appointed by Council, Douglas said he would focus on sustaining Council's priorities and projects already underway, support Bellingham's "tremendous" management team, and "get the work of the people done."
In late August, Asmundson announced he would resign his elected position to accept a job as manager of the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA). Asmundson began his third Mayoral term in 2005; his resignation leaves one year left in his four-year elected term as Mayor. Voters will elect a Mayor for a four-year term at the next general election in November 2007.
The vacancy created by Asmundson's departure was filled by a majority vote of the City Council, as per Bellingham's City Charter, which allows Council to fill such a vacancy by any Bellingham citizen who meets its eligibility requirements.
Mayor Douglas outlines key priorities
A warm welcome and “welcome back” to Mayor Tim Douglas! Mayor Douglas hit the ground running at City Hall last week, outlining key priorities that mirror his long-time commitment to clean water, healthy neighborhoods and civic engagement. Tim’s top priorities for his year in office are:
Waterfront redevelopment: Partnering with the Port and the community in planning for this new neighborhood in ways that add value and vitality, so it becomes source of pride for the entire community.
Neighborhood planning: Engaging neighborhood leaders in reviewing their neighborhood plans, building neighborhood consensus regarding plan changes, and updating the plans in accordance with community visions and needs.
Water quality: Protecting Lake Whatcom, the source of drinking water for 85,000 county residents and an environmental treasure, for today’s needs and those of future generations.
In addition to pursuing these priorities and leading the delivery of myriad other city services, Tim is strengthening our ties with Whatcom County and other partners and engaging people all over town in the important work of building and maintaining our community together. Mayor Douglas welcomes your comments at mayorsoffice@cob.org or by contacting City Hall. He looks forward to his year as your Mayor.
Updated: Nov 20, 2006
