Blaine City Council voted 5-1 to appoint Blaine Bouquets owner Sarbie Bains to fill a three-month term left vacant by Mike Hill’s recent resignation during its July 14 meeting.
Bains will hold the at-large position until the general election results are certified in late November, which is when the winner of that race will take over the position early. Bains is on the ballot for the position with Hill, who resigned for personal reasons and has supported Bains. The ballot will also have a section for write-in candidate.
Bains, who will represent the entire city, said during her interview that she would be the only person on council with a Blaine business and who has younger children in the school district. She said she wanted to bring new businesses to Blaine, encourage a wide range of housing and ensure city money is not wasted.
“I am doing this for the future of my kids, our kids, small businesses and those young families who do not have time to attend city council meetings or to write to The Northern Light,” she told council. “This is not a short-term goal for me. I’m planning on making a better future for my kids and for myself because I see myself retiring here.”
Jay Taber and Ray Leone were the other two candidates interviewed during the meeting. Council allotted 15 minutes to interview each candidate and asked them the same questions about the budget, their priorities and representing constituents.
Taber is among a group that has protested a lack of transparency and various other concerns at city council meetings. Taber, who listed himself as a retired journalist on his application, accused the city mayor of a “malevolent reign” and called for the firing and prosecution of city leaders.
Leone is a retired nurse and teacher who is involved with the Blaine Senior Center and Salishan Neighborhood Association. Leone regularly attends city council and planning commission meetings and was opposed to increasing building heights on the west side of Peace Portal Drive. Leone is also running for councilmember Rhyan Lopez’s Ward 2 Position 4 seat in the August primary.
John Gargett and Laura Lucas also applied but rescinded their applications, city clerk Sam Crawford said. Gargett served as the deputy director of the Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management before retiring at the end of 2023. Lucas is a retired community member with a strong interest in improving school funding.
Councilmember Eric Davidson initially voiced that he wanted to leave the positon open until the November election. Davidson said he was concerned appointing Leone could put him at an unfair advantage in the election and that he didn’t want to appoint Bains because “Hill has tainted this position.” He said after the meeting that he was referring to Hill dropping out and endorsing Bains, which showed favoritism.
Mayor Mary Lou Steward said she did not support keeping the vacancy because Whatcom County would have authority to select an interim councilor if the position wasn’t filled in 90 days.
“I would have agreed with you, Eric, had it not been for this clause,” Steward said. “I think we should be more in control of our own destiny than that.”
Councilmember Sonia Hurt said she supported Bains because she would likely be voted into the position in November.
“I think it would be appropriate to get her started as soon as possible,” Hurt said.
Councilmember Eric Lewis, the lone dissenting vote, expressed support for Leone.
City manager Mike Harmon recommended during the last council meeting on June 23 that council suspend its rule on filling council vacancies and appoint Bains to the position to save the city money on advertising the vacancy. Councilmembers Davidson, Lewis and Richard May pushed back, insisting others should have the opportunity to apply.
Bains’ first council meeting is expected to be Monday, August 11.
