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Community leaders, elected officials, and local advocates are standing with Michael because they trust his experience, his integrity, and his commitment to delivering results for the 42nd District

Support from Leaders Who Know Whatcom County

wa state Majority Leader

Jamie Pedersen

wa state Deputy Majority Leader

Manka Dhingra

ld 42 State Senator

Sharon Shewmake

LD 40 State Representative

Debra Lekanoff

Ld 40 State Representative

Alex Ramel

LD 41 State representative

My-Linh Thai

LD 21 STate representative

Lillian Ortiz-Self

Lummi nation chairman

Tony Hillaire

Blaine Mayor

Mary Lou Steward

Whatcom County Executive

Whatcom County Executive

Satpal Sidhu

Whatcom County PUD Commissioner

Eddy Ury

Whatcom CountyCouncilmember

Whatcom county council At-Large Position a

Barry Buchanan

Whatcom county council At-Large Position B

Jon Scanlon

Whatcom county council District 1

Kaylee Galloway

Whatcom county council District 2

Elizabeth Boyle

Whatcom county council District 3

Jessica Rienstra

former whatcom CountyCouncilmember

Todd Donovan

Bellingham city councilmember 3rd ward

Dan Hammill

Bellingham city councilmember at-large

Jace Cotton

Bellingham city councilmember 6th Ward&nbsp;

Michael Lilliquist

Whatcom County Sheriff

Donnell "Tank" Tanksley

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“We’re facing big challenges—and real opportunities. From strengthening our schools and building an economy that works for everyone, to addressing public safety and protecting the quality of life that makes Whatcom County special, we need leaders who listen, collaborate, and deliver results. That’s why I’m running for State Senate.”

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“Our district deserves a senator who shows up, listens, and works every day to make progress. I’m ready to bring my experience, my optimism, and my determination to the State Senate on behalf of the people who call this community home.”

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Michael Shepard is an educator, community advocate, and three-term Bellingham Port Commissioner. He has taught at Western Washington University, Northwest Indian College, and Whatcom Community College, working to support students and strengthen educational opportunity across the region.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/6c272bc4-aaac-42eb-8990-b7b9b1247e96/525e1b74-42f0-4ef5-9c3d-d98afb1a93e4/525e1b74-42f0-4ef5-9c3d-d98afb1a93e4.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C5814%2C4651&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="45" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Elected countywide, Michael has earned a reputation for pragmatic leadership and a collaborative approach to problem-solving. As a Port of Bellingham Commissioner, he has worked closely with community partners, local governments, tribal nations, and industry leaders to advance projects that strengthen our regional economy, protect Whatcom County’s natural resources, expand public access, and create new opportunities for working families.His leadership has helped drive major initiatives in economic development, environmental stewardship, and support for the local fishing, maritime, and small-business sectors—always with a focus on delivering results that make a real difference in people’s lives.<h3>Key Achievements at the Port of Bellingham</h3><ul><li>Modernized and reactivated the Bellingham Shipping Terminal, supporting union, family-wage jobs</li><li>Secured nearly&nbsp;$20M&nbsp;in federal funding to reconnect the terminal with rail access</li><li>Obtained&nbsp;$2M&nbsp;to plan an International Arrivals Terminal at Bellingham International Airport</li><li>Expanded publicly owned, open-access broadband fiber into rural Whatcom County</li><li>Established&nbsp;Seafeast, celebrating local fishing and maritime economies</li><li>Opened the Bellingham Waterfront District, including the Portal Container Village and Waterfront Pump Track</li><li>Supported construction of the Millworks Low-Income Family Housing Development</li><li>Ended the Harcourt master developer contract to put the Waterfront District back on track</li><li>Adopted a&nbsp;Climate Action Plan&nbsp;for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050</li><li>Installed the largest municipal solar energy systems in the county at Bellingham Airport &amp; Cruise Terminal</li><li>Sponsored popular Waterfront District festivals including Fire and Story, Noisy Waters Mural Festival, and Bellingham Tune-Up</li><li>Provided ferry access for Point Roberts residents during the pandemic</li><li>Purchased and preserved a heritage agricultural farm and advanced development of a WSU Berry Lab</li><li>Negotiated a historic sovereignty and permitting agreement with Lummi Nation, establishing Squalicum Harbor as home port for the Lummi commercial fleet</li><li>Partnered with the City to plan a new Waterfront District Skatepark</li><li>Completed a major environmental cleanup of Blaine Harbor</li><li>Designed a new port-managed boatyard planned for operation in 2027</li></ul>

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Addressing the high cost of living

Improving Public Education

Public Safety

Protecting Natural Resources

Safe &amp; Healthy Neighborhoods

<h3>Michael’s priorities reflect Whatcom County.</h3>He’s focused on practical, community-driven solutions that strengthen our schools, grow our economy, and keep our neighborhoods safe.His approach is shaped by listening to the community and working with partners across the county to move meaningful solutions forward.

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Pragmatic Leadership. Community Solutions. Stronger Whatcom County.

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With a record of integrity and real results, Michael is ready to continue serving the county he calls home.

Meet Michael Shepard

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We can’t have strong communities if people don’t feel safe in their neighborhoods and in our cities and towns, both during the day and night.&nbsp;I do NOT support “defund the police”. I believe that law enforcement needs more resources, not less. We must work together in partnership toward a shared goal of keeping Whatcom County safe.&nbsp;

Keeping people safe is the top priority of government.

Strong Public Safety

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As Port Commissioner, I adopted a Climate Action Plan for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and I intimately understand protecting our natural resources. Washington’s natural beauty is an economic and cultural treasure. I’m committed to working with Tribal Governments to protect and educate the public to recover our stocks of salmon, trout, and other fish for generations to come. Companies move here because of our access to natural beauty, clean air, and water to drink, and outdoor recreational opportunities like hiking, boating, biking, and fishing. Climate change is real, and we must continue to lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as voters have mandated. I support sustainable energy and conservation policies that create jobs, reduce utility costs, and protect our way of life — without loading extra costs on families.

Protecting our environment and a strong economy go hand in hand.

Conservation

All students deserve a high-quality education, no matter the zip code where they are from or the color of their skin. In Olympia, I’ll champion increased funding for K-12 education and affordable early childhood education.After students graduate, we need to ensure there are pathways to family-wage jobs, either by providing access to affordable college tuition that doesn’t leave them with hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, or through apprenticeship programs in the trades and other skilled labor. I’m a Professor at Western Washington University, and I know the importance&nbsp; of a good educationEducation isn’t just an investment in students — it’s an investment in our state’s future workforce.

Quality education must be affordable for every student and family.

Public Education

As an elected Port Commissioner, my mission has been economic development! This includes creating well-paying jobs, retaining the jobs we have, and maintaining critical infrastructure like our harbors, airports, and shipping terminals.&nbsp;Strengthening workforce training, supporting our public schools, and making sure wages keep pace with the costs of living will help families stay in their communities and support local economies. Too many skilled workers in Washington are struggling because of unnecessary red tape and regulations standing in the way of projects our communities need.&nbsp;&nbsp;When we support local businesses, we support important job creators and community hubs. Too often, the government stands in the way with outdated regulations, high taxes, lengthy permit times, and confusing rules.&nbsp;

Affordable living begins with good pay and opportunity.

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Living-Wage Jobs &amp; Economic Opportunity

Raised in a hardworking family that taught me the value of responsibility and service, I have helped navigate rising costs, whether it’s housing, healthcare, or childcare. Today, through my work in education and public service, I see these same challenges facing families, students, and small business owners across our community—and I’m committed to finding practical solutions that help people succeed.Here in Whatcom County, we know this is a great place to live, but it’s become a hard place to afford.&nbsp; Every family in Washington should be able to live without choosing between rent, healthcare, and groceries.Childcare: As a father with two young children, I hear from so many families about how expensive childcare is - some of my friends are paying $2,500 a month per child! Our economy depends on safe, quality, affordable childcare.Housing: I will fight to lower the cost of living by expanding access to housing that working people can afford, reducing the cost of healthcare, and ensuring basic needs don’t break a family’s budget. Housing costs in Washington are too high, requiring effective solutions like incentivizing construction of workforce housing, encouraging responsible density near transit, and cutting red tape to get housing built faster. I believe that when people can afford to live and work here, our communities thrive, businesses have both customers and employees, and our economy keeps moving.Healthcare: Too many families delay care because it costs too much, which ends up costing all of us due to expensive emergency room visits. This is especially true now that the Affordable Care Act Subsidies were cut by President Trump and Congress. I support measures to lower prescription drug prices, expand affordable health coverage options, and strengthen access to preventive care so Washingtonians can get the care they need without financial fear.For example, the state can move to a self- insurance model for Medicare and Medicaid to remove the insurance middle-man. The Port did this 15 years ago, saving millions in tax money and providing excellent quality insurance to employees.&nbsp;

Affordability isn’t optional — it’s essential.

Affordability for Working Families

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It is more important than ever to stand up to support reproductive health care and access to safe and legal abortion and birth control, especially with the makeup of the Supreme Court and Congress. In Olympia, I'll support patients seeking reproductive health services and protect health data and medical professionals providing reproductive care. The choice to have a family is a personal and private decision, not one for politicians or judges to make.

Ensuring safe and easy access to reproductive health care.

Reproductive Freedom

Homelessness has touched every community in the state, and through my work as a Port Commissioner, I’ve worked with local governments and community partners focused on addressing housing instability and supporting those experiencing homelessness. When we invest in housing affordability, we invest in efforts to reduce homelessness. We must also expand resources for homelessness prevention, so people don’t end up on the streets in the first place, and finally deal with our mental health and substance abuse crisis.

Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home.

Homelessness

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Washington families shouldn't have to pay the price for federal chaos. Right now, decisions coming out of Washington, D.C. threaten healthcare access, drive up the cost of everyday goods, and put retirement savings at risk. Working families are the ones left holding the bag.State government is our first line of defense. While D.C. creates uncertainty, Olympia can act by shielding our communities from harmful cuts, keeping costs down, and making sure the programs families depend on remain intact.As your state Senator, I'll fight to protect healthcare access, defend working families from rising costs, and hold our state government accountable to the people it serves, not special interests. Washington has always been a place where hard work leads to opportunity. I intend to keep it that way.No matter what Washington, D.C. throws at us, I'll make sure our state remains a place where every family can feel secure and every community can move forward.

Defending Washington residents from Federal chaos.

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