***MEDIA RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
Contact: Barry Buchanan, 360.224.4330, barrybuchanan46@aol.com
April 27, 2023
Whatcom County Council Chair Barry Buchanan Announces He is Running for Whatcom County Executive
Bellingham, Wa – Today, Whatcom County Council Chair Barry Buchanan announced a run for the position of Whatcom County Executive.
Barry Buchanan is a trusted leader in Whatcom County. He stands up for things that matter: public safety and criminal justice reform, clean drinking water and improved emergency medical services county-wide. He successfully championed the Children’s Fund and Whatcom Racial Equity Commission. Time after time, when good things get done in Whatcom, it’s because Barry Buchanan was at the wheel making sure things moved forward.
“I love Whatcom County and our community, and we need trusted leadership to stay the course,” says Buchanan. “I’ve worked hard to be a good steward of your taxes and run a government that respects workers. Four years ago, I thought hard about running for County Executive and stepped aside. Today, I'm stepping up to run.”
“I’m running to stand up for things that matter to you: clean water and smart planning for Lake Whatcom, bringing forward a public safety, prevention, and jail plan that people can trust and support, implementing the Children’s Fund the way voters directed us to, and managing county departments and employees with respect. When voters vote “yes” on something, whether it’s childcare in every corner of our county or a fifth emergency medical unit, I’ll make sure it happens.”
About Barry
Barry Buchanan is a Navy Veteran, a musician, a fourth-generation resident of Whatcom County, and the current Chair of the Whatcom County Council. He and his wife of 50 years, Judy, live in Bellingham, where they raised their 3 children. Barry served on the Bellingham City Council before moving to the Whatcom County Council. He has served ten years there and 5 as Chair, including chairing the Council through the most difficult early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In his role as a County Councilmember, Barry fights for public safety and criminal justice reform, mental healthcare access, affordable childcare, fairness, clean drinking water, and safeguarding your taxes.
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