Blaine Confidential

In the City  UGA Swap Presentation , the City notes that the cost for sewer, water, and electrical upgrades to Blaine taxpayers for West Blaine expansion of city limits is $32.3 million, $14 million more than East Blaine development would have cost. The City is using the lower figure when discussing the 'Reduction of City Limits' Initiative, which is misleading to voters.  The $32.3 million does not cover roads or stormwater treatment. There is no need to reduce the city limit in East Blaine. The city can redesignate the East Blaine UGA as a protected Critical Aquifer Recharge Area within the city limits. As the city study spelled out, this ballot initiative is about West Blaine  expansion of city limits .

7/28/25 letter to Washington Secretary of State, elections division: On July 14, I was appointed by the City of Blaine to write the 'con' statement against the "UGA Swap" Initiative for the voters pamphlet. The official title of the so-called City 'de-annexation' initiative is misleading. It is a process leading to the annexation of approximately 800 acres of the Semiahmoo headlands, while de-annexing roughly 500 acres in East Blaine. The Secretary of State should change the ballot title to "UGA Swap" to reflect this. Four other qualified 'con' applicants were rejected, including a land use/environmental law attorney and the president of Semiahmoo Residents Association. This leaves me in the position of having to sign the voters pamphlet statement and rebuttals to City of Blaine attorneys without the recognized company in the voters pamphlet of other community leaders, placing me at a disadvantage. The Whatcom County Auditor declined to appoi...

7/25/25 letter to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn: Dear Ms. Henthorn, Here are two City of Blaine documents that show the intent of the Resolution 1982-25 Initiative at odds with the proposed ballot title which I asked you to change. Due to substantive and procedural irregularities, this Initiative should not be allowed on the ballot. If it is allowed, it should have a title that accurately describes the purpose and intent of the Initiative. It is a "UGA Swap." WEST BLAINE URBAN GROWTH AREA ALTERNATIVE [ UGA SWAP ] Best regards,   Jay Taber https://en.gravatar.com/tbarj

7/25/25 letter to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn: Dear Ms. Henthorn, Should you decide to allow the City of Blaine "De-annexation" Initiative to proceed to the ballot, I urge you to take action by changing the ballot title to "UGA Swap" in order to more accurately inform voters. As noted in my letter to you yesterday, the  BLAINE ANNEXATION PROCESS  has been fraught with both substantive and procedural irregularities that impair voter education. "UGA Swap" is the term used in the City of Blaine Resolution 1982-25 passed on July 14, 2025, placing the Initiative on the ballot and establishing the voters pamphlet statement committees. It is a more accurate description of the intent of the Initiative that you need to address as Auditor.

7/24/25 letter to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn: The 'UGA Swap' City-sponsored ballot Initiative to start the process leading to City annexation of approximately 800 acres of the Semiahmoo headlands must be approved by 60% of Blaine voters in November. By state law, changing the city boundaries has to be approved by voters, and the City is required to appoint 'pro' and 'con' committees to prepare voter pamphlet statements and rebuttals.  Labeling the 'UGA Swap' as a de-annexation proposal is misleading; it is a proposal to de-annex roughly 500 acres in East Blaine and to begin the process of annexing nearly twice as much land on the Semiahmoo headlands by designating a new Urban Growth Area and Urban Growth Reserve Area, with significant tax increases for Blaine residents and threats to Birch Bay's drinking water. The City is allowed to appoint up to three members to each committee, and must include as many applicants as possible in order to ...

7/24/25 letter to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn: It isn't just what the voter pamphlet committees say, it is also who says it. Voters look for names of people and organizations they recognize when deciding how to vote, especially on complex matters such as changing City boundaries, infrastructure, and taxes. The City of Blaine decision to exclude recognized community leaders April Hashimoto and Ann House from the 'con' committee opposing the City Initiative deceives voters into thinking only I am opposed to the measure. Allowing this misrepresentation to influence the election makes the Whatcom County Auditor liable.  

7/24/25 letter to Whatcom County Auditor Stacy Henthorn: As per your instructions, I will seek competent counsel to assist me in preparing the 'con' statement for the voters pamphlet re the City of Blaine Initiative Resolution 1982-25 UGA Swap ballot measure. Simultaneously, I will seek to hold the Whatcom County Auditor accountable for evading her duty to prevent election-fixing.  On July 14, 2025, the City of Blaine attempted to mislead Blaine voters by rejecting recognized community leaders  Ann House and April Hashimoto who applied for the three 'con' committee appointments, and only appointed one 'con' committee member, me. O n July 15, 2025,  Blaine City Manager Mike Harmon called me a liar in a retaliatory email sent  to state and county officials I had alerted to corruption by Blaine officials. This official retaliation against a whistleblower and citizen advocate took place the day after I testified before the Blaine City Council listing names, dates, a...