Progressive members of the Whatcom County Council took a stand for abortion rights Tuesday, adopting a resolution “supporting every person’s right to inclusive reproductive health care.”
The resolution passed 4–0, with Carol Frazey, Kaylee Galloway, Todd Donovan and Barry Buchanan voting in favor. Conservative council members Kathy Kershner, Ben Elenbaas and Tyler Byrd abstained.
Frazey and Galloway, who introduced the resolution, wore matching pro-choice T-shirts in council chambers Tuesday evening.
Frazey read from a prepared statement before the vote: “My goal with bringing this resolution forward is to take a stand to defend abortion and birth control rights, get more people to speak up for reproductive rights, and state what we will do within our power at the county level to support choice.”
The resolution comes after protests in Whatcom County and nationwide uproar following a leaked draft U.S. Supreme Court decision indicating the court was preparing to overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that secured abortion rights.
The resolution doesn’t change county regulations or have a direct influence on state or national laws. It does call on the county to work with Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood to expand reproductive health services and to provide more funding to the county’s Nurse-Family Partnership supporting first-time parents.
“We … very specifically reference local action that we can take, that upholds these values and commitments to reproductive health care,” Galloway said.
Conservatives on the council questioned whether Frazey and Galloway’s resolution was appropriate.
“A woman’s right to choose is codified in state law,” Kershner said. “If Roe is weakened or overturned, abortion will remain legal in Washington.”
“I have to wonder,” Kershner added, “why they feel compelled to wade into national political policies that have nothing to do with their authority or purpose on the County Council.”
“I think we best serve our community when we stick to what is in our lane, what is within our purview and what we have the power and the authority to affect,” Elenbaas said.
The full resolution is available on the county website.
