Ward 4 Candidates in Bellingham Debate Housing, Immigration Rights

(BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON) The race for the Bellingham City Council’s Ward 4 seat in 2025 has narrowed to two candidates who agree that housing costs and tenant protections are pressing issues, while offering different paths forward. Incumbent Edwin “Skip” Williams and challenger Kerri Burnside have centered their campaigns on housing policy, with immigration rights and, to a lesser degree, voting reform shaping their broader platforms, according to candidate interviews and voter guides.

Both are actively meeting residents this fall as Ward 4 debates how city policies can ease rent pressures, support immigrant neighbors, and keep local government responsive.

Housing priorities: supply expansion versus stronger tenant rules

Williams, the first Black man to serve on the Bellingham City Council, argues the city must add a wider range of homes to meet long-term demand. He has supported zoning changes to allow more middle housing—such as duplexes and triplexes—and backed tenant protections that cap security deposits and target “junk fees.”

Supporters describe him as a consensus-builder who listens to community input and aims for durable, citywide solutions to the housing shortage. In Ward 4, where single-family blocks sit close to transit and services, his approach would keep construction costs down and make it easier to build more options across neighborhoods.

Burnside, a renter whose housing costs have doubled in the past decade, centers her campaign on affordability for tenants. She pushes for stronger protections, including the removal of junk fees, relocation assistance for displaced renters, and rent control. Burnside has also backed statewide rent stabilization efforts and says city government must enforce tenant laws more firmly.

She supports cooperative and community housing models that can lower costs and give residents more control. Critics argue her focus leans heavily toward renter issues rather than the broader supply picture, but her supporters say that’s exactly what Ward 4 needs to keep people housed now.

The most direct contrast in Ward 4 comes down to emphasis:

1. Williams stresses:
   • Increasing the total housing supply
   • Lowering barriers to building
   • Pairing growth with tenant safeguards
2. Burnside stresses:
   • Near-term relief for renters through stronger tenant protections
   • Rent measures and better enforcement
   • Support for cooperative/community housing models

Both candidates agree that housing is the main day-to-day concern for many Ward 4 residents. Both want to keep people in their homes while shaping rules that fit Bellingham’s growth.

How immigration rights factor into housing policy

Immigration rights are not the top headline in this race, but both candidates tie their housing work to fair access for immigrant households and other marginalized groups.

• Williams brings decades of community work, including service on racial equity commissions and youth programs. He has backed policies that address systemic barriers—those that can hit immigrant communities hardest.
• Burnside’s tenant advocacy is rooted in equitable access to housing, with repeated attention to renter protections that benefit immigrant families who may face unstable leases, language gaps, or limited savings.

In practical terms, these stances matter for Ward 4:

• When the council limits junk fees or caps deposits, families with tight budgets—including recent arrivals—face fewer surprise costs that can lead to eviction.
• When the city updates zoning to add more middle housing near jobs and transit, newly arrived workers can find options closer to services.
• When councilmembers push for better enforcement of tenant laws, renters who may fear retaliation—especially those from immigrant backgrounds—gain a clearer path to hold landlords to the rules.

The candidates’ shared support for immigrant rights also fits into broader city discussions. Across Bellingham, neighbors continue to ask how local decisions—land use, rental standards, and city services—can strengthen trust and improve access.

For federal resources that explain immigration services, residents can refer to official guidance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For news and analysis on how local measures affect immigrant communities, outlets such as VisaVerge.com track city-level debates that connect housing policy and immigrant rights.

Practical outcome focus: making rent less painful, curbing fees, opening more homes to the market, and ensuring families—longtime residents and newcomers alike—can settle and stay.

Voting reform and other campaign emphasis

Voting reform, which has taken center stage in other council races, sits at the edges of the Ward 4 conversation. Based on interviews and guides, neither Williams nor Burnside has made it a central plank. Both say they support inclusive civic engagement and fair representation in council decisions.

This suggests the Ward 4 debate is likely to remain tied to housing and enforcement issues rather than ballot structure or election design during this cycle.

How each candidate presents themselves

According to campaign materials and local voter guides:

• Williams presents himself as steady leadership in a tight housing market, with a record of tenant protections and growth-friendly zoning.
• Burnside presents a renter’s voice on the council—currently underrepresented—and argues policy must answer rising rents with tougher rules and stronger support for those at risk of displacement.

Endorsement notes:
– The Progressive Voters Guide leans toward re-electing Williams for experience and a focus on increasing supply, while recognizing Burnside’s forceful case for renter protections.
– The Whatcom Democrats have not endorsed in Ward 4, signaling a competitive race with clear contrasts.

What the choice means for Ward 4 residents

For many households, the outcome will shape how the city balances short-term relief with long-term supply:

• A council that boosts middle housing and trims building costs could add options over time.
• A council that expands tenant protections and steps up enforcement could reduce housing shocks now.

Either way, both candidates tie their housing plans to inclusion—making sure immigrant renters and other marginalized groups can access the benefits.

Residents who want to weigh in have several practical steps:

• Attend candidate meet-and-greets and ask how each plan would work block by block in Ward 4.
• Review recent council votes on tenant protections and zoning to see how current rules affect your lease or your street.
• Consider how each approach handles enforcement, since rules matter most when the city follows through.

Contact and resources

• Campaign activity is steady as of October 2025, and the Ward 4 debate continues to revolve around housing affordability and renter protections, with immigration rights present in the broader city discussion rather than as a top campaign line.
• For direct contact, the incumbent can be reached at 360-778-8215 or [email protected].

As resources for readers following city policy and its impact on immigrant communities:

• VisaVerge.com offers ongoing coverage of local elections and housing debates that shape daily life.
• For official federal information, residents can use the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website to find guidance on benefits and services that may affect their families.

Across the Bellingham City Council races this year, Ward 4 stands out for its clear split in emphasis—yet a shared aim to make housing more stable and more reachable. Voters now face a choice between two candidates who agree on the stakes but differ on the best tools to use.