42nd Legislative District candidates answer how they will help Point Roberts residents

With November ballots expected to arrive to voters in the coming week, the All Point Bulletin posed one question to candidates for the 42nd Legislative District Position 1 and Position 2 races: If elected, how would you help Point Roberts residents?

The candidates were given a maximum of 200 words for their written responses. Below are their responses, separated by race. Responses were not fact-checked.

42nd Legislative District Position 1

Alicia Rule (D-Blaine)

Alicia Rule is a two-term incumbent and former Blaine City Councilmember. She is a fifth-generation Whatcom County resident who works as a mental health professional. Rule has said she has worked to cut taxes for small businesses, increase affordable housing, expand outdoor education, improve healthcare and mental health access, and increase funding for law enforcement.

“Point Roberts is a unique community and has unique challenges. As your state representative, I will keep showing up, listening and working with community members.

Last year, we secured $72,000 and an additional $18,000 in local funding for an economic development study for both short- and long-term solutions to create an economic strategy for infrastructure investment, business development strategies, housing and workforce needs. I am committed to continue working with the community to elevate and support the project needs to implement the economic development plan.

This past year, we also secured funds to establish composting and mulching to help move Point Roberts to greater sustainability and secured investment funds for Lighthouse Park.”

Raymond Pelletti (R-Blaine)

Raymond Pelletti is a Blaine real estate agent and U.S. Air Force veteran who has previously served as president of the Whatcom County Association of Realtors and as a member of the board of directors for the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. Pelletti supports promoting conservative American values and creating working-wage jobs, according to the voters’ pamphlet.

“There are several issues which we will take on.

The increased gas prices through the cap-and-trade carbon tax. Repealing or reducing it will lower costs to travel to the main portion of Whatcom County and help restore tourism. With almost $.50 a gallon extra, tax curtails many people from extended traveling.

Safety: Point Roberts has an extremely high crime rate per capita. We will work with Whatcom County to find a solution to the lack of police and ambulance services. Safety and emergency services are vital to the point.

Across border travelers and employment. We will work with the agencies to create a cross-border exemption for workers. Businesses need sufficient staffing to run their businesses. The lack of reliable employees is very detrimental to businesses.

Education. We need to improve the available educational services at Point Roberts.

We will continue to listen to those with vested interests in Point Roberts to improve the overall viability of the point.

Having work assignments in Point Roberts over the years has allowed me to appreciate the uniqueness of Point Roberts. Its history, recreation and serene lifestyle has always been a pleasure for me. We want to continue that.”

42nd Legislative District Position 2

Joe Timmons (D-Bellingham)

Joe Timmons is a first-term incumbent who has worked as regional outreach representative for Whatcom County in the governor’s office and as assistant director of government relations at Western Washington University. Timmons has said that he has worked to lower costs for seniors, improve public safety and support small businesses as well as increase access to education, affordable housing and mental healthcare.

“It has been an honor serving as your state representative for the last two years. During my first term in office, I met with local leaders and passed bills to reduce the cost of living for seniors and improve public safety, including sponsoring a bill that added a judge to the Whatcom County Superior Court (HB 1992). I also helped pass SB 6017 (sponsored by senator Sharon Shewmake), to support Point Roberts residents by expanding the use of the border fuel tax for local transportation needs.

If re-elected, I will continue to listen to community needs and collaborate with state and local partners to improve quality of life for Point Roberts residents, like increasing access to broadband internet. I am also committed to working with our federal representatives in Congress when border issues arise that impact Point Roberts.

Additionally, I will continue working on issues that matter most to our community, like ensuring that all students in Whatcom County have access to a quality education, housing and child care are affordable for working families, small local businesses can thrive, and protecting reproductive freedom.”

Kamal Bhachu (R-Blaine)

Kamal Bhachu works as a hospital engineer at PeaceHealth, and has previously worked as a nurse and at Lynden Sheet Metal. Bhachu volunteers with the Punjabi Selfless Service Outreach Organization and with a Vietnam veterans organization. He wrote in the voters’ pamphlet that people have been hurt by Seattle’s extreme policies that became state laws, and is looking to reverse those changes.

“I recently spent a weekend in Point Roberts enjoying some amazing views.  Being isolated from the rest of the United States, by two international borders, brings many specific challenges to this community that most of us never even think of.

I spoke to some local business owners, and several issues were brought to my attention. This area was hit hard by Covid-19 lockdowns, and they are desperately struggling to survive. Ninety percent of their economic dollars came from Canada. To say that they suffered after the lockdowns would be a gross understatement. Among their most urgent concerns is the need for infrastructure and infusion into the business community.

When elected, I will pursue state grant options and look into tax incentives to encourage business growth that would help restore tourism in this area and provide additional jobs. I realize what a truly unique area this is, and I understand this will require some intentional relationships going forward.”