“This is an issue of who you are for: either you are for the mercury producers or you are for the children who could be injured by mercury.”
— Senator Patrick Leahy, April 1, 1998
Why We're Here
We are group of concerned citizens who’ve very closely studied the redevelopment process of the former G-P mill site. Many of us are affiliated with the Bellingham Bay Foundation. Most of us are parents. After studying the documents that spell out the Port’s plans to leave high levels of mercury behind where people will live, work and play, we filed an initiative so that the citizens of Bellingham can have a direct say in getting a safe and healthy cleanup.
We have a dedicated committee working hard to first gather signatures and now pass the citizens’ initiative. We’re passionate about having a safe future for our families and we’re supported by the thousands of citizens who wish to see this question on the ballot.
Join us! Please send us an e-mail, call us, or drop by the office. Help us see that the mercury and other toxins on the waterfront are cleaned up. Cleanup comes first!
— Senator Patrick Leahy, April 1, 1998
Why We're Here
We are group of concerned citizens who’ve very closely studied the redevelopment process of the former G-P mill site. Many of us are affiliated with the Bellingham Bay Foundation. Most of us are parents. After studying the documents that spell out the Port’s plans to leave high levels of mercury behind where people will live, work and play, we filed an initiative so that the citizens of Bellingham can have a direct say in getting a safe and healthy cleanup.
We have a dedicated committee working hard to first gather signatures and now pass the citizens’ initiative. We’re passionate about having a safe future for our families and we’re supported by the thousands of citizens who wish to see this question on the ballot.
Join us! Please send us an e-mail, call us, or drop by the office. Help us see that the mercury and other toxins on the waterfront are cleaned up. Cleanup comes first!
Anna Hall-Evans, Frances Badgett, and Patty Bean.
Anna Hall-Evans
Chair
Anna Hall-Evans was born in Mississippi and grew up in Nevada. She's the Community Relations Director for the Bellingham Bay Foundation. Anna is a self-described Recovering Academic, former English teacher, and, until recently, a full-time Mom. She holds graduate degrees in English and Theology. Anna and her husband started building one of George Dyson’s baidarkas six years ago; she hopes to finish it some day and use it to commute to work. For now, she hauls her kids around in a black minivan.
Chair
Anna Hall-Evans was born in Mississippi and grew up in Nevada. She's the Community Relations Director for the Bellingham Bay Foundation. Anna is a self-described Recovering Academic, former English teacher, and, until recently, a full-time Mom. She holds graduate degrees in English and Theology. Anna and her husband started building one of George Dyson’s baidarkas six years ago; she hopes to finish it some day and use it to commute to work. For now, she hauls her kids around in a black minivan.
Frances Badgett
Vice Chair & Secretary
Frances Badgett grew up in Lexington, Virginia. Her father is an art historian and her mother is a community activist who focuses on assistance to the poor. Frances has a bachelors degree from Hollins University and a masters degree from Vermont College. She is a writer, an editor (Hunger Mountain and Contrary Magazine), and an active volunteer with many community organizations. She’s an accomplished cellist and is fluent in German and French. She lives in the Columbia neighborhood. Like the rest of the committee members, she possesses a profound love of Bellingham and wants nothing but the best for its citizens.
Vice Chair & Secretary
Frances Badgett grew up in Lexington, Virginia. Her father is an art historian and her mother is a community activist who focuses on assistance to the poor. Frances has a bachelors degree from Hollins University and a masters degree from Vermont College. She is a writer, an editor (Hunger Mountain and Contrary Magazine), and an active volunteer with many community organizations. She’s an accomplished cellist and is fluent in German and French. She lives in the Columbia neighborhood. Like the rest of the committee members, she possesses a profound love of Bellingham and wants nothing but the best for its citizens.
Elizabeth Britt
Treasurer
Elisabeth Britt is a former employee of both Georgia-Pacific and the Port of Bellingham. Mom and local business owner who lives in Bellingham. Educated as a Political Scientist at Western Washington University, she served as a legislative aide in the Washington State Legislature where she specialized in water resource issues. Elisabeth has served on a number of local, state, and federal government boards and committees, including the WA State Department of Ecology's Water Resources Advisory Committee and the Whatcom County WRIA 1 Watershed Management Planning Unit. In her spare time, Elisabeth manages Polaris Financial Services, a local residential mortgage company. She is also currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Harvard University.
Treasurer
Elisabeth Britt is a former employee of both Georgia-Pacific and the Port of Bellingham. Mom and local business owner who lives in Bellingham. Educated as a Political Scientist at Western Washington University, she served as a legislative aide in the Washington State Legislature where she specialized in water resource issues. Elisabeth has served on a number of local, state, and federal government boards and committees, including the WA State Department of Ecology's Water Resources Advisory Committee and the Whatcom County WRIA 1 Watershed Management Planning Unit. In her spare time, Elisabeth manages Polaris Financial Services, a local residential mortgage company. She is also currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Management from Harvard University.
Patty Bean
Campaign Manager
Patty Bean is the Office Manager for the Bellingham Bay Foundation. Patty moved to the Bellingham area from Lopez Island, where she was the office manager for the Lopez Island Family Resource Center. She grew up on the east coast and made the Northwest her permanent home in the 1980s after attending Western Washington University. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and exploring the world through the eyes of her children.
Campaign Manager
Patty Bean is the Office Manager for the Bellingham Bay Foundation. Patty moved to the Bellingham area from Lopez Island, where she was the office manager for the Lopez Island Family Resource Center. She grew up on the east coast and made the Northwest her permanent home in the 1980s after attending Western Washington University. She enjoys the outdoors, traveling, and exploring the world through the eyes of her children.
Marissa Rosati
Officer
Bellingham City resident, Western Washington Univesity graduate of Economics and Environmental Studies, board member of Washington Conservation Voters-Whatcom County, and an employee of the Pipeline Safety Trust. Like all matters of public safety, whether it be pipeline safety or environmental quality, foresight is crucial. That's why Marissa believes cleanup comes first!
Officer
Bellingham City resident, Western Washington Univesity graduate of Economics and Environmental Studies, board member of Washington Conservation Voters-Whatcom County, and an employee of the Pipeline Safety Trust. Like all matters of public safety, whether it be pipeline safety or environmental quality, foresight is crucial. That's why Marissa believes cleanup comes first!
Lisa McShane
Officer
Lisa is the Community Relations Director for Conservation Northwest and currently serves on the boards of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities and Washington Conservation Voters, and on the Candidate Committee of the Whatcom County Democrats. Her past community work includes years of service with Girl Scouts, the York Neighborhood, Whatcom Horticultural Society, Assumption Church, Brigid Collins and numerous state and local political campaigns.
Officer
Lisa is the Community Relations Director for Conservation Northwest and currently serves on the boards of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities and Washington Conservation Voters, and on the Candidate Committee of the Whatcom County Democrats. Her past community work includes years of service with Girl Scouts, the York Neighborhood, Whatcom Horticultural Society, Assumption Church, Brigid Collins and numerous state and local political campaigns.
Mitch Friedman
Officer
Mitch Friedman is the Director of Conservation Northwest, a position he has held since 1989. He founded the Bellingham Bay Foundation in 2005. Mitch has a degree in zoology from the University of Washington and is the father of two daughters. He has received conservation awards from Sunset Magazine, Society for Conservation Biology, The Wilderness Society, Washington Environmental Council, Northwest Jewish Environmental Project, and in 2003 tricked Washington Law and Politics Magazine into naming him as one of the “25 smartest people in Washington.”
Officer
Mitch Friedman is the Director of Conservation Northwest, a position he has held since 1989. He founded the Bellingham Bay Foundation in 2005. Mitch has a degree in zoology from the University of Washington and is the father of two daughters. He has received conservation awards from Sunset Magazine, Society for Conservation Biology, The Wilderness Society, Washington Environmental Council, Northwest Jewish Environmental Project, and in 2003 tricked Washington Law and Politics Magazine into naming him as one of the “25 smartest people in Washington.”
