The Port can help by strategizing with business to create living wage jobs. Beyond that as an example, the Port might explore ways of working with the Opportunity council, Sustainable Connections, and the Kulshan CLT to nurture small farmers and community sustained agriculture as ways of providing high quality food for the community at affordable cost.

Please see the answer to Question #6 for this response.

The most important thing the Port of Bellingham can do to ensure a vibrant community that meets its social challenges is to remain focused on developing strong local economies. Beyond financial gain, out of the area firms have fewer ties to our Whatcom County community; therefore, the more local business we can foster the greater the advantage to our neighbors.

Washington State law forbids State Port districts "gifting or lending of credit", therefore as a Port Commissioner, I can only approve investments to enhance the District's economic development.

According to Farm Friends, Whatcom County citizens couldn't eat all the food that is produced and grown in this county. There should be no reason that anyone in Whatcom County goes hungry. I am a strong supporter of our farmers and will use my position to ensure that our farmers continue to be a local source for our nutritional needs. I will also support programs such as the Small Potatoes Gleaning Project, which connect people who have food but don't need it with those who do.

Are we identifying all those who are hungry? Are we reaching those people? I am very interested in how to get to those answers. As in question 1 above we need to support County staff who can ensure that those who are eligible for food assistance are provided for. I also support flexible use of economic investment strategies that ensure we meet the basic prosperity needs, including food, of all our citizens.

At this point in time food support is provided through federal and state programs and with remarkable private efforts attempting to fill the gap. There is significant evidence around the country that these efforts are falling short. This, in my mind is creating a dilemma for local governments and charitable organizations on how best to fill that gap. It is an issue that will require a coordinated effort both here locally, but also by partnering with other communities facing the same challenge.

Candidate did not provide a response by the deadline.

The most important action I can take as a Council member is use the visibility of the position to express compassion and advocate for the needs of our friends and neighbors. In these extremely difficult economic times, we have to address the stigma of those who need help. People in our community, if they are going hungry, need to be respected and assisted in getting back on their feet. I believe the County Council's job is to allow opportunities for people to earn a living wage and ultimately feed themselves. I will support and advocate for the excellent programs run by private non-profits in our community, such as the Opportunity Council and Food Bank. If there are children and seniors who are going hungry, we as a society need to address that, and I believe I can help bring attention and compassion to their situation.

I have been proud of our community's efforts to fund and support the Food Bank. In addition to this vital service, I also know that other food banks exist throughout the faith-based community. Then I think about the food drives sponsored by KGMI and others. I wholeheartedly support these efforts and will do what I can to make sure they are continued.

When local government talks about highest priorities you usually hear about police, fire, and ambulance response. While those issues are certainly very important they certainly are not more important than ensuring people have enough food. There is no moral way to justify that people in one of the richest nations on earth go to bed hungry.

During previous budget cycles when Council members would inquire about providing financial support for the county's food banks we were told that such support was illegal, being a "gift of public funds." During the 2007 budget cycle I refused to accept this explanation and working with Mike Cohen at the Bellingham Food Bank provided the legal analysis and examples in other communities to dispel this long help opinion. I then ensured that the Council would, even in a time of severe financial stress, provide $100,000 of direct support to the food banks.

I will continue to support such support for the food banks, as well as other programs the Count supports, such as the Small Potatoes Gleaning Project. Again, this is not an issue that any one entity can solve, but I believe the County can play a larger role to encourage the generosity of local citizens, and to partner wherever possible to obtain additional food and funding.

We all need to help out organizations like Church On The Street, the food bank, Maple Alley Inn, and any others that offer food and meals to those who can't provide for themselves, regardless of their situation. Government has a role in this, but we also must encourage friends and neighbors to help each other because of our own example. Again, we need to encourage a thriving local business environment. Small businesses would provide employment demand, and that is healthy for our area.

As I stated previously, I support county funds going to the food bank, and as a boardmember on the OC, I've supported the operation of Maple Alley Inn. I think it's vitally important that we provide options for people who can't get their basic needs met.

Another horrific problem that needs to be addressed not only locally but nation wide as well. As a council member I have always supported organizations that provide for the poor here in our community. I have donated my time on Thanksgiving and Christmas by helping serving food at the various places that serve food for the people without homes or food. Its breaks your heart to see so many people in need. We have so many generous people here in Bellingham I hope we can do more.

Our city has a long history of support for our local food bank, and other essential service programs. Personally, beginning with my term in 2007, I represent the City Council on the Opportunity Council Board and currently as board Vice-chair, serve on Finance and Executive committees. I'm very proud of the work of the OC staff, with board support, in helping those most in need, throughout the region, with an expanding variety of services to meet the increased need during these challenging times.

The most exciting thing happening with food acquisition in our community is the Bellingham Food Bank Farm and the Gleaners. Between these two projects our food bank is able to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to the members of our community. Continuing to support both of these organizations with funding is crucial to ensuring that members of our community have adequate nutrition. It would be terrific if the food bank farm were able to provide fresh vegetables year round with more greenhouse capacity. I would like to see members of our community be able to work off fines and community service by working at the farm. The most important issue related to people having enough to eat is a living wage job. Given the fact that the fair market rent for a two bedroom home is $790 per month, a household would have to earn $31,600 per year to not spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Therefore, a person making minimum wage must work 71 hours in order to afford a modest two-bedroom home or apartment.

Reviewing the jobs posted on Sunday, October 4, 2009 two out of the six job postings offered a wage of more than $15./hour required in order to afford a two bedroom home working 40 hours per week. The key to reduce hunger in our community is living wage jobs and we must continue to work as a city to provide the needed employment to the residents who live in this community.

Hunger is something no one should have to endure, and I am proud that our community has stepped up to this challenge in a number of ways. From federal food assistance, to the local Senior Nutrition Program, to the Bellingham Food Bank, hunger and food uncertainty is something we are fighting on many fronts. Personally, I have contributed and led youth-group volunteers to help out at the Food Bank, and just this last month I connected up my daughter's Girl Scouts troop with the Small Potatoes gleanings project for a troop service activity. If elected, I would use my profile as an elected leader to continue this advocacy.

These are unusual times: jobs are being lost and houses foreclosed on at higher rates, and people who never before needed these services are seeking them out. At the root level, food insecurity is a matter of employment as much as anything else, and so I believe the city must work with employers, educators, and resources like WorkSource to support people reconnecting with family-supporting jobs. We should also commit to working collaboratively with the Asset Building Coalition and other groups that promote connection of families in need to available resources, such as the Targeted Jobs Tax Credit, which will expand their purchasing power with each paycheck. These are the best long-term remedies.

Finally, I think we can do more with community gardens, so they are a more routine part of any neighborhood that wants them.

Hunger should not be tolerated in Bellingham. I would educate myself on the extent and magnitude of the problem. I would learn who the most informed and knowledgeable people are on the subject and ask them what they think the best solutions are. As a City Councilman I would ask how we can better help. Helping the less fortunate amongst us strikes me as the most basic thing a government can provide and there is nothing more basic than the need to eat. Certainly I would support adequate funding for services such as the food bank. To the extent the food bank is not sufficient to address the need I would want to learn and understand what other forms of support are needed to address the problem and act appropriately.

Nobody in our community should go hungry. I have been involved with two organizations which are involved in feeding our community. Bellingham Bay Rotary Club, of which I am a member, was very involved in building the new food bank which is able to serve more people. As a Board Member of the Thomas and Martina Horn Foundation, we have allocated funds to support the Bellingham Community Meal Program as well as The Lighthouse Mission.

City employees and Council members could lead an effective city-wide food drive during the times when contributions to the agencies providing food are low. A permanent drop off for food contributions could be situated at various City locations where there is a lot of personal interaction between staff and their customers.