“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”
- Rita Pierson, Educator
Prop 5 is Supported by:
Endorsements from Our Community
Jeffrey Radakovich, physician
Jennifer A Bates, MD Ferndale Family Medical Center
Jessica Bloom, MD, Family Physician Family Care Network
Jim Hopper, MD
Judith Koont, Retired Child, Adolescent & Family Psychiatrist
Kainui Rapaport, RN
Karena Whitworth, Family Physician
Kellie Jacobs, MD
Ken Gass, MD Retired Whatcom County Pediatrician
Kenneth Bachenberg, MD, Retired Physician
Kim Wiley, LMHC, Child & Family Mental Health Therapist
Laura Fox, family physician Family Care Network
Lessli Putney, MD, Pediatrician, Chief of Pediatrics & Children's Therapies
Lisa Brodsky, ARNP
Lucia Pearson, ARNP, MPH
Mara Kelley, Medical Director Pediatrics, St Joseph Medical Center
Marcy Hipskind, MD
Marcy Shapley, Physician Assistant, Family Care Network
Mark Lisowski, MD - Emergency Medicine Physician
Mary Ellen Shields, MD, Retired Whatcom County pediatrician
Mary Swanson, Family Care Network
Megan Gruber, ARNP at Family Care Network, Whatcom Family Medicine
Megan Murray, Family Nurse Practitioner
Alejandro Rey, MD, Hospital physician for Family Care Network at Saint Joseph Hospital
Anneliese Floyd, Family Doctor
April Wakefield Pagels, MD, Family Medicine
Arielle Furtado, ARNP, Family Care Network
Ashlee Walls, MD, Family Medicine Physician
Beth Earthman, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, PeaceHealth
Brooke Jardine, Pediatrician, St. Joseph Medical Center
C Bree Johnston, MD, MPH
Christie Erskine, Speech Pathologist, PeaceHealth Medical Center
David A. Lynch, Family Physician, parent and grandpa
Deborah Benz, MD
Deborah Hall, Family Physician
Dr. Chao-ying Wu
Dr. Kaeley Kaplan
Dr. Kellie Jacobs, MD
Drs. Astrid & Chris Newell
Elizabeth Gaylord, Naturopathic Doctor & Nurse Practitioner Family Care Network
Erica Gadzik, MD - Family Medicine Physician
Ernest Cassella and Dina Levin, MD
Francie Gass,R.N.
Frederic Braun, MD
Gib Morrow, MD, MPH, Internal Medicine Physician and Public Health Officer
Greg Anderson, MD, Family Physician Family Care Network
Heather Honey, Family Care Network
Ian Bonner, Family Physician
Doctors and Medical Professionals
Meghen Flaig, Physical Therapist and Founder of Endurance Physical Therapy
Melana Schimke, MD, Family Physician Family Care Network
Nancy McAllister, MD
Nicholas Lois, PA-C
Ken Gass, MD
Patrick McLaughlin, North Sound Family Medicine
Paul Homer, MD
Rachel Lucy, PhD
Rachel McCarthy, Practice Manager at North Sound Family Medicine
Rachel Stipek, Medical Assistant
Richard Binder, MD, Family Care Network
Robert Baird, MD
Rodney Anderson, MD
Rory Bradt, DO, Family Physician
Ryan Honey, Physician, Family Care Network
Sally Baird, PhD Child Psychologist
Shay Martinez, MD
Sophia Kuo, Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, Sound Mental Health, PLLC
Steven Ban, MD, Retired Whatcom County Pediatrician
Susan Holstine D.O., Hospitalist , Sound Physicians and Board Member Chuckanut Health Foundation
Teresa Thornberg, MD
Tricia Peterson, RN
Tyler Nelson, MD Family Medicine
Vermont McAllister, MD
Elected Leaders
Eric Richey, Whatcom County Prosecutor
Satpal Sidhu, Whatcom County Executive
Sharon Shewmake, State Representative, District 42
Alicia Rule, State Representative, District 42
Liz Lovelett, State Senator, District 40
Debra Lekanoff, State Representative, District 40
Alex Ramel, State Representative, District 40
Barry Buchanan, Whatcom County Council
Carol Frazey, Whatcom County Council
Kaylee Galloway, Whatcom County Council
Todd Donovan, Whatcom County Council
Kathy Kershner, Whatcom County Council
Greg Hansen, Mayor of Ferndale
Mary Lou Steward, Mayor of Blaine
Seth Fleetwood, Mayor of Bellingham
Dan Hammill, Bellingham City Council
Lisa Anderson, Bellingham City Council
Kristina Michele Martens, Bellingham City Council
Hannah Stone, Bellingham City Council
Michael Lilliquist, Bellingham City Council
Hollie Huthman, Bellingham City Council
Ashley Brown, Everson City Council
Kelly Bashaw, Bellingham School Board
Camille Díaz Hackler, Bellingham School Board
Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt, Mt Baker School Board
Michael Shepard, Port of Bellingham Commissioner
Christine Grant, Public Utility District Commissioner
Community, Nonprofit, and Business Leaders
Abigail Warick
Adam Resnick
Adrian Shulock
Adrienne Renz, Executive Director, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services
Alex Winstead, Cascadia Mushrooms
Ali Bonner, School Counselor
Alivia Jelinski
Alycia Hawkins, Lydia Place Board President
Amanda Coleman
Amanda Elder
Amy McIlvaine
Amy Rydel
Amy Slonim
Anna Gracheva
Anne-Marie Faiola, CEO of Brambleberry
Annie Teed, Generations Early Learning and Care
Annie Roegele
Anya Milton, Community Advocate
April Vian
Ari Lee-Newman
Ashley Brown
Ashley Kimberley
Barry Meyers
Becka Robinson, educator
Becky Brunk, realtor
Ben Kinney
Benjamin Christian
Benny Musonda
Brandi Damon
Brenda Kenyon
Brian Russell
Briana Slater
Bryan Brink, retired teacher
Bryant and Hilary Engebretson
Bryttani Watts
Carol & Ray Dellecker
Carol Comeau, Retired Superintendent, Anchorage Public Schools
Catherine Lynch
Cathy Fairbanks
Chad Nickisch, Loan Officer at Peoples Bank
Chris Phillips
Christine Espina, Faculty member WWU
Christine Wiebe, educator
Chuck Robinson
Cindy Brinn
Cindy Rudolph
Clark Campbell, President at Gear Aid Inc
Colby Abshire
Colton Kaltenfeldt
Danielle Lash
Daria & Bill Taylor
Darlene Giblin
David Johnson, Business leader
David Schrengohst
David Webster
Deb & Pete Granger
Debbie Ahl, Former CEO, Sterling Health Plans
Debbie Broughton
Dee Robinson
Dera Ye
Derek Long
Derek Thornton, CFO, Peoples Bank
Devin Connolly, Executive Director, Interfaith Coalition
Diana Wu
Diane & Mike Bates
Dick and Peggy Campbell, Bellingham Millwork Supply Co.
Donnell Tanksley, Police Chief, City of Blaine
Doug Chadwick, Whatcom County Undersheriff
Dr. Barbara Mathers-Schmidt, Professor WWU
Dr. Greg Baker, Superintendent, Bellingham School District
Dr. James Everett, Superintendent, Meridian School District
Elizabeth Boyle
Emily Hoffman
Emma Bishop
Elizabeth Maynard, Executive Director, Bellingham Childcare & Learning Center
Elizabeth Shieff
Elizabeth Thrash
Emily O’Connor, Executive Director of Lydia Place
Eric Hayes, CMO, Superfeet
Eric Hirst
Eric Rising
Erica Huffman
Erin Lynch, Board President, Chuckanut Health Foundation. PTA parent, Carl Cozier Elementary School
Erin Maloney
Ernest Cassella
Flo Simon, retired, Police Chief, City of Bellingham
Gabriel Miles, Gabriel's Art Kids
Gena Gustafson, retired primary teacher
Geneva Blake
Gerry Smoot, Coach, Mt. Baker School District
Greg Winter, Opportunity Council
Gretchen Pflueger
Haley White
Heather Bliss
Heather Brown
Heather Ellis
Heather Flaherty, Chuckanut Health Foundation
Heather Hyink
Heidi Bugbee, Executive Director Of Generations Early Learning & Family Center
Hilary M Schwandt, Professor WWU
Ian P. McCurdy
Isabel Machuca-Kelley, 3rd grade teacher, Bellingham Public Schools
Isabel Meaker
Jaime Arnett
Jamie Ashton
Jacqueline Brawley, Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations, Bellingham Public Schools
Janelle Nardone
Jeff & Deb McClure
Jennifer Kutcher
Jennifer O'Toole
Jennifer Woodruff
Jennifer Wright
Jeremy Loween
Jessica Ennen
Jessyca Murphy, Executive Director, Make.Shift Art Space
Jim Boyle
JoAnn Benson
Joe Perry
Joe Timmons, Candidate for State Representative, District 42
Josh and Nicole Burdick
Josh Kaplan
Julianna Cress
Julie Wasilewski
Kaiden Bair
Karen Kildall Occhiogrosso
Katie Boylan
Kathy & John Whitmer
Kaye Marshall, Retired Kindergarten Teacher and Early Learning Specialist, Mount Baker SD
Keelin Hunsdale, Kindergarten Teacher, Bellingham Public Schools
Keith Montoya, Generations Forward
Keith Negley, Keith Negley Illustration
Kelsey Bedient, Sun Mountain Consulting
Ken Hertz, Chair Blossom Management Corporation
Kim Brown, NAMI Whatcom Board Member
Kimberly Lynn, PhD, Professor WWU
Kim Weil
Kristi Birkeland, CEO United Way
Kristi Fairbanks, LICSW, child and family therapist
Kristin Barber
Lara Welker
Laura Clark, Executive Director, Whatcom Humane Society
Leslie Farris, retired school counselor
Licia Sahagun, Executive Director, Wild Whatcom
Linda Wise Miller, Retired Administrator, Bellingham Public Schools
Loch Trimingham
Lucinda Pfeiffer-Hoyt
Lupita Garcia-Ruiz
Lyn Salazar
Maralise Fegan, Former Ferndale City Council member
Marc Fairbanks
Madison DeBruler
Margie Kimberley
Maria Macpherson
Maria Stahn
Mark Geri
Mark Johnson, Retired Superintendent, Nooksack Valley School District
Mary Brett
Mary Sewright, Superintendent, Mount Baker School District
Matt & Teri Treat
Matthew Barrow, Director at Lydia Place
Mauri Ingram, President & CEO, Whatcom Community Foundation
Meg Metzger
Meghan Penny
Meredith Hayes, Whatcom Child Care Coalition
Mike Hammes, Owner and CEO, RAM Construction
Missy Belles, Gifts & Grants Administrator at Whatcom Community Foundation
Monica Hivick
Nanette Davis
Nasreen Mughal-Barrows
Nolan Pate
Paul Newman
Peter Telfer
Raven Lee Dietzen
Rachael Wilson, Lilac Listings by Rachael and Laura RE/MAX Whatcom County
Rand Jack
Ray Deck III, Founder Skookum Kids
Rebecca Lewis, Educator and mom of a special needs child
Reid Frederick
Rita Jefferson, Chief Operating Officer, Silver Reef Casino Resort
Rob McElroy, Former Elementary Principal
Robina Sandhu
Ron Polinder, Retired Educator
Ryan Thramer
Sadie Townsend, Housing Case Manager, Lydia Place
Sallye Quinn
Sam Gearhart, Executive Director Bellingham Public School Foundation
Sara Nichols Chiabai
Sara Williams
Sarah Hayes
Sarah Rothenbuhler, Owner, Birch Equipment
Shane Sullivan
Shawna Unger
Shelly Justis-Johnson
Shu-Ling Zhao
Sierra James, Executive Director, Whatcom Center for Early Learning
Stephanie Allen, Teacher
Stephen Gockley
Stephen Taylor
Steve Clarke, retired Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Bellingham Public Schools
Steve Harris, Local law enforcement officer and labor leader
Steve Ruthford, Fairhaven Middle School Principal
Steve and Kim Smith
Steve Swan
Steve Walker, Retired Executive Director, Community Boating Center
Sue Sharpe
Sue Staley, Retired Marriage and Family Therapist
Suneeta Eisenberg, Executive Director Whatcom Waves
Susan & Pete Rittmueller
Susan Given-Seymour
Susan Trimingham
Suzannah Gusukuma, Lightning Tree Designs
Suzanne Goodell
Suzanne Wu, Retired Early Childhood teacher
Tallie Jones, Director, Mindport Exhibits
Tamara Spira, Fairhaven College, Western Washington University
Tammie O’Dell
Tammy Fehrer
Teizeen Mohamedali, Whatcom CARE (Whatcom Coalition for Anti-Racist Education)
Teresa Goetz
Terry Thalhofer
Tiffani Beardsley
Tim McEvoy
Tina Anderson
Tricia Peterson
Trinity Bernhardt
Troy Lautenbach
Troy Muljat, Muljat Group
Vesla Ann Tonnessen, coordinator at the Whatcom Early Learning Alliance
Vikki Kinsman
Virginia Mercado
Wendy Scherrer, M.Ed
Wes Drilias
Wilanne Ollila-Perry, Early Learning Advocate
William Larry Ziels, CEO/Executive Director, Whatcom Family YMCA
Zanna Kuehl
(Title and organization names are provided for identification purposes only. They do not always imply organizational endorsement.)