Council Member Daniel Hammill

Education/experience

• A.A. from Whatcom Community College with emphasis in criminal justice reform
• B.A. from WWU with an emphasis in video and film production

Community involvement

• GRACE and Alternate Response Team policy lead
• Downtown Bellingham Partnership Board
• Chair, Behavioral Health Committee, Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force
• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS)
• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Policy Team
• Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Communications Team
• Past President, York Neighborhood Association
• Whatcom County Racial Equity Commission policy development team
• Literacy tutor
• Former Bellingham Food Bank volunteer

Council committees

• Budget and Finance
• Parks and Recreation
• Public Health, Safety, Justice, and Equity, chair

Council assignments

• EMS Oversight Board
• Incarceration Prevention and Reduction Task Force
• Justice Project, Oversight and Planning
• Library Board
• What-Comm Administration

Dan Hammill sought office because he wants to work on behalf of the things that make Bellingham a great place to live—a strong sense of community, healthy families, distinct neighborhoods, our great local businesses and nonprofit providers, and access to open spaces and greenways.

Dan has been a leader on the issues that Bellingham residents care about: homelessness and affordable housing, climate change, managing how Bellingham grows, keeping our community safe and thriving, and making sure people have access to mental health services. Dan champions protections for renters and drives policies that reduce crime and keep the community safe while getting those charged with low-level drug crimes the help they need. He’s been a leader on climate change action and for protections for our local environment, like ensuring Galbraith Mountain remains open for bikers, runners, and hikers.

Dan has brought forth and fought for the following legislation, actions, policies, and programs:

• Source of income discrimination
• Ban the Box for City applicants
• Galbraith Mountain
• Affirmation of Women’s Reproductive Rights
• GRACE (Ground Level Response and Coordinated Engagement)
• Electronic Home Monitoring
• Purchase of the Aloha Motel site for redevelopment
• Julianna Park in Cordata
• Community Paramedic
• Behavioral Health Officer
• Protection of Mobile Home Park residents from redevelopment
• New 32-bed Crisis Stabilization Center in Irongate
• Greenways
• Bellingham Home Fund
• Drinking water protection: Lake Whatcom Total Maximum Daily Load
• Supporting Keep Washington Working Act Work Group
• Supporting water service to Lummi Nation
• Single-use plastics ban
• Children’s Initiative
• Public Health, Safety, and Justice Initiative
• Support waterfront redevelopment with the Port
• Working with state legislators for more funds for affordable housing and mental health services
• Work with Swinomish Tribe to provide life-saving medical assisted treatment for community members with opiate use disorder

Dan is the first City Council President to read a land acknowledgment at the beginning of every Council meeting.

Dan envisions and works towards building a community that embraces its unique character as it continues to grow and thrive. He recognizes that in this growth, we face challenges and opportunities that both reflect and define us by the choices that we make. Dan brings a collaborative approach to issues around land use, zoning, neighborhood preservation, infrastructure maintenance and development, water issues, public safety, transportation, housing, infill, and environmental protections.

Dan and his wife, long-time Bellingham School Board Member Kelly Bashaw, are proud Kulshan Community Land Trust homeowners in the Sunnyland Neighborhood.

In 2012, Dan helped lead an effort to provide affordable housing for seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and families with low incomes. The Bellingham Home Fund was approved by 57% of voters and now builds and preserves affordable housing and provides supportive services for local citizens. It passed again in 2018 by an even wider margin.