April 24, 2023

Ben Elenbaas 5th District Councilman

Ben Elenbaas announced today he will run this year for a second term on the Whatcom County Council.

Elenbaas won the District 5 position in 2019 with a decisive 59% of votes. District 5 includes Ferndale, Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts.

“Over the last four years on the Whatcom County Council, I’ve been a constant and strong voice for fiscal sanity and accountability,” Elenbaas said. “This is even more important now with the permanent closure of Intalco, rising costs of food, gas and heat, and a recession becoming more likely.

“I’m also a strong advocate for public safety and to add positions to our Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Public safety should be the overriding priority of local government.”

Elenbaas is a fifth-generation Whatcom farmer and has two decades of experience in the energy industry at Cherry Point. The Custer resident graduated from Western Washington University, where he studied at Huxley College of the Environment. Elenbaas was chair of the Whatcom County Charter Review Commission, served on the Whatcom County Planning Commission, and served in leadership with both the Cattlemen’s Association and the Farm Bureau.

Elenbaas said a lack of real-world experience among elected officials has led to poor decisions.

“We’ve made little progress with homelessness and affordable housing, the agricultural and fishing industries are struggling, and the Cherry Point companies vital to our economy remain under attack,” he said. “District 5 needs a proven leader with common sense.”

The District 5 position on the County Council will be on the Nov. 7 general election ballot. For more information, visit www.elenbaas4council.com.