First round of ballots released in Whatcom County off-year election. Here’s who was winning

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu was leading business executive Dan Purdy in his bid for a second term, and John Scanlon was ahead of Hannah Ordos for the open County Council at-large seat in two of the more closely watched local elections.

Sidhu was leading Purdy by 56% to 44% for the top local elected position in Whatcom County.

Tuesday’s election was a vote of confidence in his leadership, Sidhu told The Bellingham Herald.

“I’m very thankful to the community. I think people recognized my experience, which is the most important thing in this position,” Sidhu said.

Scanlon was ahead of Ordos 55% to 45% for the at-large seat, which could change the political makeup of the council.

“I think it’s a strong showing,” Scanlon told The Herald.

“Something that I heard a lot at the doors, at community forums, that so many candidates talked about this year was affordable housing. That’s got to be something that’s on the agenda,” he said.

In other contests:

▪ A ballot measure seeking a sales tax of 20 cents on a $100 purchase to fund a new jail and related services was leading by 66% to 34% when the first batch of election returns were released after polling closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

▪ Undersheriff Doug Chadwick was ahead of Blaine Chief Donnell Tanksley in the race for sheriff, a position that was open for the first time since Sheriff Bill Elfo was appointed to the post in 2003. Elfo decided not to seek a sixth term. Chadwick was ahead 51% to 49%

▪ County Council member Ben Elenbaas was leading Jackie Dexter 61% to 39% for a second term in District 5, which includes Lummi Nation, Ferndale, Blaine, Birch Bay and Point Roberts.

▪ County Council member Kathy Kershner was trailing challenger Mark Stremler by 52% to 47% in District 4, which includes Lynden and rural Whatcom County south to Bellingham..

Bellingham races

▪ Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood was leading challenger Kim Lund, former head of the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation, by 140 votes, a statistical dead heat.

Jace Cotton was leading Russ Whidbee by 34 votes for the open Bellingham City Council at-large seat being vacated by Kristina Michele Martens, another statistical dead heat.

“Running against a highly qualified and well-respected person in the community, I never expected this race to be a slam-dunk,” Cotton told The Herald.

Whidbee said he was grateful for the volunteers on his campaign.

“They are the unsung heroes of our democracy,” he said.

▪ Bellingham Councilman Dan Hammill was leading challenger Liz Darrow for the Ward 3 seat by 61% to 39%.

▪ Bellingham City Councilwoman Hannah Stone was leading challenger Eamon Collins for the Ward 1 seat 64% to 36%.

▪ A pair of Bellingham ballot measures calling for a higher minimum wage and tenant protections against steep rent hikes were ahead on Tuesday night, with the minimum wage passing 55% to 45% and the renter protections passing 58% to 42%.

Those initiatives were supported by a grassroots group called Community First Whatcom, whose spokesman, Cotton, told The Herald that the “decisive results” were made possible through the work of hundreds of volunteers.

“I am very proud of Bellingham today,” Cotton said. “At the doors (talking to voters) we had conversations with so many people who were struggling with the cost of living.”

There were 159,573 active registered voters on Tuesday, according to the Whatcom County Auditor’s Office website. A total of 44,436 ballots had been returned and 43,988 ballots were accepted.

Ballot totals released Tuesday include those that were processed by the 8 p.m. deadline, including ballots from official drop boxes and ones that arrived in the mail.

An estimated 18,000 ballots remained to be counted in the auditor’s Office on Tuesday night, the website said.

Long lines were reported at ballot drop boxes last Tuesday. Voter turnout was 29%, according to the AUditor’s Office.

Another ballot total was due around 5 p.m. Wednesday and that will include ballots from drop boxes and ballots that arrive in Wednesday’s mail, providing that they were postmarked before 8 p.m. Tuesday.