Editing Whatcom County, Washington (section)

==Government==
The Whatcom County government is a county corporation operating under a charter approved in 1978; it functions as a county constitution. Whatcom County is one of seven Washington counties to use the [[home rule charter]] provision of state law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/1270/History |access-date=August 19, 2017 |website=Whatcom County Official Website}}</ref> Local government is split between the county, incorporated cities and towns, and special-purpose districts. These local governments are established and operate according to state law, and operate independently from the county government.

===County government===
The charter establishes the structure of Whatcom County government. The [[Whatcom County Council]] holds legislative powers granted to counties. The council consists of seven members elected for a term of four years. Council members are elected at the general election in November of odd-numbered years. Three council members are elected one year before a presidential election; four council members are elected one year after a presidential election. One member is elected from each of the five districts; two members are elected [[at-large]], which favors candidates who can command a majority of voters. The county council also serves as the county board of health.<ref>{{Cite web |title=County Council - Whatcom County, WA - Official Website |url=http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/council/index.jsp |access-date=August 19, 2017 |website=co.whatcom.wa.us}}</ref>

The executive branch consists of six elected officials, a [[Whatcom County Executive|county executive]], and five department heads. The county executive is similar to a mayor or governor. The assessor, auditor, prosecuting attorney, [[Whatcom County Sheriff's Office (Washington)|sheriff]], and treasurer are elected independently from the county executive and council. These six officials serve four-year terms.<ref name="elected">{{Cite web |title=County Elected Officials |url=http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/contact/officials.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527175237/http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/contact/officials.jsp |archive-date=May 27, 2008 |access-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=County Code and Charter |url=http://srch.mrsc.org:8080/code/template.htm?view=main |access-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref> The county council establishes various departments by ordinance. The county council or county executive appoint department heads. These departments include administrative services, health, medical examiner, planning and development services, parks and recreation, and public works.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Complete List of County Departments & Offices |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/contact/departments.jsp |access-date=August 19, 2017 |website=Whatcom County Official Website}}</ref>

The judicial branch consists of a district court and superior court. The district court is a court of limited jurisdiction that handles civil and criminal cases. Criminal cases are limited to adults charged with misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor offenses. State law specifies what cases are in the district court's jurisdiction. The district court operates a small claims court to resolve civil cases involving monetary damages not exceeding $5,000. No attorneys are permitted to appear in small claims court. Cases are heard using less formal procedures.<ref name="dc">{{Cite web |title=District Court |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/districtcourt/ |access-date=August 19, 2017 |website=Whatcom County Official Website}}</ref> The district court has two judges, a court commissioner, and a support staff.

The superior court is a court of general jurisdiction.<ref name=elected/><ref name=dc/> Superior court hears civil cases exceeding $75,000 or requesting non-monetary remedies.<ref name="sc">{{Cite web |title=Whatcom County Superior Court |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/superiorcourt/ |access-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref> Superior court hears all juvenile criminal cases and all adult felony cases. Superior court also hears appeals from district court and municipal courts.<ref name=sc/> Superior court staff include three judges, three full-time court commissioners, two part-time court commissioners, and support staff. District and superior court judges are elected by the county voters for a term of four years. Court commissioners are appointed by elected judges; commissioners have powers and responsibilities equal to elected judges.

===Politics===
Whatcom County has been largely Democratic in presidential elections since 1988. Since 2004, the Democratic presidential candidates have received the majority of the county's vote. In the 2020 election, [[Joe Biden]] handily won the county with just over 60% of the vote, as did [[Kamala Harris]] four years later.{{PresHead|place=Whatcom County, Washington|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=August 19, 2017 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|49,213|83,295|5,360|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|50,489|83,660|4,471|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|40,599|60,340|12,400|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|42,703|57,089|3,996|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|40,205|58,236|2,465|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|40,296|48,268|1,830|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|34,287|34,033|5,437|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|27,153|29,074|8,283|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|23,801|26,619|13,259|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|23,820|25,571|703|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|27,228|22,670|788|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|21,371|18,430|6,256|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|20,007|19,739|1,933|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|22,585|15,027|1,189|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|14,695|14,003|2,501|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|10,900|20,297|225|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|16,651|14,298|577|Washington (state)}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|17,414|14,533|244|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|17,590|12,877|361|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|12,850|12,736|1,865|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|12,890|14,787|421|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|13,351|14,877|606|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|9,035|15,428|1,293|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|9,254|11,355|1,902|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|14,621|4,100|300|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|9,214|927|5,969|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|9,157|2,288|4,475|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|7,632|5,629|2,581|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|4,187|2,773|8,045|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,955|2,398|1,268|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|5,410|1,174|1,100|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,952|1,700|562|Washington}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,971|2,227|72|Washington}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,709|1,161|1,248|Washington}}

===Cities and towns===
Incorporated cities and towns provide municipal services. Each city or town has an elected council and mayor.

===Special-purpose districts===
Special-purpose districts include cemetery, fire, hospital, library, school, and water and sewer districts. Each special district is governed by officials elected by voters within that jurisdiction.

====Fire districts====
Eleven fire districts, two city fire departments, and a regional fire authority provide fire prevention, fire fighting, and emergency medical services. Each fire district is governed by an elected board of commissioners. Most districts have three commissioners. Fire districts receive most of their revenue from property taxes. All of the fire districts and the regional fire authority have volunteer or paid-call firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs), as does the City of Lynden Fire Department.

The City of Bellingham is an all-career department. Some of the districts also have full-time firefighter/EMTs. All fire districts use [[9-1-1]] for emergency calls. Whatcom County has one 9-1-1 call center located in Bellingham. Fire/EMS calls are processed and dispatched at a second public safety answering point called Prospect, located at a fire station in Bellingham. Additional dispatching locations provide backup capacity to answer emergency calls.

Whatcom County Fire Districts are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Whatcom County Fire Districts map |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/pds/build/fire/districtinfo.jsp |access-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref>
* Fire District 1 serves [[Deming, Washington|Deming]], [[Everson, Washington|Everson]], [[Nooksack, Washington|Nooksack]], and [[Nugents Corner]].
* Fire District 2 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
* Fire District 3 was merged to form Fire District 21.
* Fire District 4 contracts for service with Fire District 21.
* Fire District 5 serves [[Point Roberts]].
* Fire District 6 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
* Fire District 7 serves areas near [[Ferndale, Washington|Ferndale]] and Cherry Point.
* Fire District 8 serves [[Bellingham International Airport]], the [[Lummi Nation]], and [[Marietta, Washington|Marietta]].
* Fire District 9 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
* Fire District 10 was amalgamated into South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority.
* Fire District 11 serves [[Lummi Island, Washington|Lummi Island]]
* Fire District 13 was merged to form Fire District 21.
* Fire District 14 serves areas around [[Washington State Route 542|SR 542]] between [[Deming, Washington|Deming]] and [[Maple Falls, Washington|Maple Falls]], [[Washington State Route 547|SR 547]], and [[Sumas, Washington|Sumas]].
* Fire District 16 serves communities along [[Washington State Route 9|SR 9]] south of [[Washington State Route 542|SR 542]].
* Fire District 17 serves [[Sandy Point, Washington|Sandy Point]].
* Fire District 18 serves southern [[Lake Whatcom]] and [[Glenhaven Lakes, Washington|Glenhaven Lakes]].
* Fire District 19 serves [[Glacier, Washington|Glacier]].
* Fire District 21, North Whatcom Fire and Rescue serves northwest Whatcom County including [[Birch Bay, Washington|Birch Bay]], [[Blaine, Washington|Blaine]], [[Laurel, Washington|Laurel]], and [[Lynden, Washington|Lynden]] (outside Lynden city limits only; the Lynden Fire Department serves Lynden), Hayne, Delta, and [[Greenwood, Washington|Greenwood]]
* The South Whatcom Regional Fire Authority serves [[Geneva, Washington|Geneva]], [[Sudden Valley, Washington|Sudden Valley]], [[Washington State Route 11|Chuckanut Drive]], Lake Samish, and Yew Street Road.

===Law enforcement===
[[File:Whatcom County Sheriff- 2015 Chevy Tahoe (17217160492).jpg|thumb|left|A Whatcom County Sheriff's office vehicle pictured in 2015]]

The [[Whatcom County Sheriff's Office]] is responsible for maintaining the [[county jail]], providing security at the Whatcom County Superior Court, serving civil processes, coordinating [[civil defense|emergency management]] among the county's emergency services, and maintaining law and order in rural areas.<ref name="whatcom">{{Cite web |title=Whatcom County Sheriff's Office |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/200/Sheriff |access-date=September 17, 2016 |website=Whatcom County Official Website}}</ref><ref name="charter" />

The first sheriff was Ellis "Yankee" Barnes who was sworn into office in 1854, during a period in which the border between the United States and [[British Columbia]] along Whatcom County had not been fully delineated. That year, Barnes seized and auctioned 34 rams that belonged to Canadian farmer Charles Griffin for Griffin's failure to pay United States taxes. The event was one of several provocations that led to the [[Pig War (1859)|Pig War]] between the United States and the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tower |first=Elizabeth |title=Over The Back Fence |date=2016 |publisher=Publication Consultants |isbn=978-1594332852}}</ref>

In 1863 James Kavanaugh served as sheriff. Kavanaugh, who married Princess Tol Sol of the [[Swinomish people|Swinomish]] tribe, had previously served as the first [[United States Marshal]] in the [[Pacific Northwest]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 18, 2009 |title=Back in the day in Anacortes |url=http://www.goskagit.com/opinion/back-in-the-day-in-anacortes-feb/article_f335f568-2d2e-57e3-b0bf-39617b6ccf57.html |access-date=September 17, 2016 |work=Skagit County Herald}}</ref><ref name="charter" />

In 2005 the sheriff's office reported 80 deputies and 53 corrections officers on staff.<ref name="charter">{{Cite web |title=Whatcom County Charter Review Commission Record of Proceedings |url=http://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/Home/View/294 |access-date=September 17, 2016 |website=Whatcom County Official Website}}</ref>