MAYOR STEWARD'S INCITEMENT OF VIOLENCE

[In the following email exchange, Senator Sharon Shewmake defends her friend Mayor Steward.]

September 14, 2025, email from Jay Taber to Mayor Steward:

Mayor Steward's incitement of violence against members of Blaine Water Coalition and Councilman Lewis needs to be investigated by the Whatcom County Prosecutor, Eric Richey.

Regarding The Northern Light September 10, 2025, story about Mayor Steward's unhinged attack on Blaine Water Coalition, there's a clue in the alleged anonymous letter in the part about city employees accused of crimes by us not being able to get jobs elsewhere. As the person who defamed us several times on the record and in the press, Blaine City Manager Mike Harmon is the most likely to be sacrificed as the fall guy when the truth about Blaine becomes known. Harmon knows how precarious the city's finances are, and can see the writing on the wall with the UGA Swap--city hall's salvation--likely to go down in flames before the county planning commission as well as Blaine voters. Harmon has access to emails, and he has a lot to lose.

Motive + Opportunity + History of Retaliation = Prime Suspect

There are only two city staff who could lose their jobs for misconduct exposed by us: Mike Harmon and Alex Wenger, director of Community Development Services.

Revenge for my candidate interview testimony in which I noted Harmon's recent misconduct in attempting to get Sarbie Bains appointed to city council without consideration of other applicants--namely me and Ray Leone--is another factor. Since Leone has never identified himself as a member of Blaine Water Coalition, it is likely another retaliation for Ray standing next to me with his sign at the Free Speech protest.

I don't have the transcript of my candidate interview, but it was pretty damning of the Mayor and City Manager, as was my application for city council appointment.

September 15, 2025, response to Jay Taber from Senator Sharon Shewmake:

Jay—I have received some pretty out there rhetoric from you.  Everyone is really scared and while you might disagree with the mayor on housing policy, she is still a human. She is a grandmother, a widow, an accomplished physician and she loves Blaine enough to spend her time doing this instead of playing pickleball with her friends.  I think you both love Blaine and would encourage you to remember the humanity in all of us. 

September 15, 2025, reply to Senator Sharon Shewmake from Jay Taber:

So are you excusing her unfounded accusations and incitement of violence? You need to do your homework rather than reflexively protecting your friend the mayor. 

You can begin your education by reading the September Whatcom Watch Blaine Case Study, and watching our video on Regulatory Capture.

September 15, 2025, question from Senator Sharon Shewmake to Jay Taber:

Where is the violence?

September 15, 2025, answer from Jay Taber to Senator Sharon Shewmake:

Mayor Steward's remarks in The Northern Light story and transcript of the September 8 city council town hall are demonizing toward us and Councilman Lewis, as is the dubious anonymous letter the mayor used to base her remarks on. As Councilman May remarked in opposition to the Mayor's baseless accusations, the record does not support her. Please read the links I provided in my letter to the mayor so I don't have to keep answering your uninformed questions.

September 15, 2025, more from Senator Shewmake to Jay Taber:

Disagreeing with facts or over policy is not the same as inciting violence.  You and I probably agree with 95% of political questions which is why I feel comfortable asking you to stick to the policy and not attack the person.  

Times are really scary right now and I would like it if you and I can be part of the calm. 

 

Septermber 15, 2025, another reply to Senator Shewmake from Jay Taber:

Again, do your homework before you mouth off. 

We are talking about the public participation process strategically undermined by the City of Blaine on behalf of the real estate industry, explained in factual detail in the Whatcom Watch story.

September 15, 2025, remark by Senator Shewmake to Jay Taber:

I did my best to respond with professionalism.  I do not think anyone would accuse me of “mouthing off” based on that email.  

Look Jay, you can be mad.  That is ok.  And you have the legal right to say hateful things but is that really what you want to do? Reducing public comment access is not violence.  

September 15, 2025, reply from Jay Taber to Senator Sharon Snewmake:

Again, you don't know what you are talking about because you are disinformed by your friend and too lazy to read the information I sent. I am not talking about the 580 days of banned free speech by the mayor: I am talking about the mayor and city manager fabricating facts about costs to the city of Public Records Act requests by us in order to effectively appeal city decisions. Withholding public documents from us requires us to go to court. By not enforcing the Ethics in Public Service Act--allowing three Blaine officials to profit from self-dealing--Mayor Steward forced us to file a formal complaint on June 14, 2025, with the State Auditor and Attorney General. You can read that document. This is what happens when Blaine City Council and Mayor Steward appointed three realtors to Blaine Planning Commission. The commission is an embedded conflict of interest.