District 1 –
Commissioner Christine Grant

District 2 –
Commissioner Atul Deshmane

District 3 –
Commissioner Jaime Arnett

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The redistricting of PUD Commissioner Election Districts Boundaries was approved on December 21, 2021 under Resolution No. 811.  PUD Commissioner Districts are the same as Port of Bellingham Commissioner Districts.  Click here to view/download Resolution No. 811.

At the December 14, 2021 meeting, a public hearing was held to receive comments on the draft redistricting plan in which the current election boundaries were adjusted to comply with all of the requirements set forth in Chapter 54.12 RCW and Chapter 29A.76 RCW:

(1) Each Commissioner District must be as nearly equal in population as possible to each and every other Commissioner
District comprising the Public Utility District.
(2) Given the size of the Public Utility District and the distribution of population within the Public Utility District, each
Commissioner District must be as compact as possible.
(3) Each Commissioner District must consist of a geographically contiguous area.
(4) Population data may not be used for purposes of favoring or disfavoring any racial group or political party.
(5) To the extent feasible, the district boundaries must coincide with existing recognized natural boundaries and shall, to
the extent possible, preserve existing communities of related and mutual interest.

The 2020 census gives the population of Whatcom County as 226,836. Equal distribution across the three
County Commissioner Districts would assign 75,612 people to each district:

District Prior Population Required Adjustment Revised Population Deviation from Target
1 72,644 +2,968 75,499 -113
2 76,717 -1,105 75,612 0
3 77,475 -1,863 75,725 +113

Approved Election Boundaries Changes:
District 1:  Precinct 136 (includes both 136-1 and 136-2) population 1,750, to be moved from District 3 into District 1;
District 2: Precinct 234, population 1,105, to be moved from District 2 into District 1; and,
District 3:  Precinct 136 (includes both 136-1 and 136-2) population 1,750, to be moved from District 3 into District 1.

No comment was received by any individual or entity that the current or proposed Commissioner District favored or disfavored any racial group or political party.  Nor has any such complaint been received by the District since the Commissioner District Boundaries were last established in 2017.

The Commissioner District Boundaries above coincide with existing recognized natural boundaries and, to the extent possible, preserve existing communities of related and mutual interests.  These boundaries, where possible, follow highways, roadways, section lines, and neighborhoods.