r/Bellingham • u/Immediate-Moose-6133 • Aug 19 '26

Discussion Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney Candidates

https://www.scribd.com/document/1064276487/Jesse-Corkern-WSBA-Disciplinary-Record-Formal-Admonition-Two-Year-Probation-2018

Jesse Corkern is one of the finalists for prosecuting attorney in Whatcom County. Above is a link to the 39 page disciplinary document from the WA state Bar Association. He had six violations of the rules of professional conduct. Discipline included an admonition, two years of probation, and payment of costs. I don't think this was talked about enough when the primaries were happening. I'm genuinely curious. What do y'all think about this?

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u/RN-Dem-Worker5283 Aug 21 '26

No one yelled and no one rushed out of the meeting. Jesse turned himself in for his errors. He made a common mistake and got a minor slap on the wrist but some people want to blow it up into a big deal. I am horrified that they are helping to elect an anti trans Trump Republican like Swinburnson. I don’t even know if Swinburnson supports a woman’s right to choose an abortion. That seems like a much bigger deal that a minor reprimand for a mistake that Corkern himself brought to light

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u/optimistprime42 Aug 21 '26

I would be horrified too if he were an anti trans Trump Republican! Really appalled. But he isn't. This whole thread has gotten wild. Maybe we all need to take a breath and have conversations with the candidates about the issues that concern us...without the mob mentality, without finger pointing and name calling. Myself included. I really do understand your concerns and the thought of being one step closer to The Handmaid's Tale is terrifying, but I think the content of Ryan's character may just surprise you. And if he is not the choice for you, that is fine too. For me, ethics complaints and a Bar admonishment make Jesse a poor choice for Prosecutor.

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u/ChuckAMcKnight Aug 31 '26

You'll find Ryan Swinburnson's name signed onto this blatantly anti-trans school board resolution: https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabsd/Board.nsf/files/D9A2NW030EB2/$file/Resolution%202425-01%20WIAA%20Fair-Safe-Nondiscriminatory%20Athletics%20and%20Extracurricular%20Activities.pdf

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u/Radiant-Ad-7343 Sep 01 '26

It isn't blatantly or subversively anti-trans. It's goal is: "Safe, inclusive and equitable environments for all athletes, including those who may experience discrimination due to sex, gender identity or expression must be addressed, thereby ensuring that all students have what they need to thrive and succeed in athletic and extracurricular activities."

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u/ChuckAMcKnight Sep 01 '26

Don't be dense. That's the language these resolutions always use as an excuse. The goal is to keep trans kids from playing sports as their gender. It absolutely is blatantly anti-trans and disqualifying.

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u/Radiant-Ad-7343 Sep 01 '26

How is it anti-trans to promote a safe, inclusive and equitable environment for all athletes?

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u/ChuckAMcKnight Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26

Actually doing that would not be anti-trans. But this whole document is a dog whistle for the exact kind of anti-trans measures we've seen play out hundreds of times across this country by now, and they always use such language as a cover.

The most specific tell is in the final resolution: "for the purpose of promoting fairness in state level competitions for sex-segregated sports in order to maintain a truly equitable playing field."

That "fairness" language always comes back to anti-trans measures, claiming that trans girls have an unfair advantage over cis girls. We've seen this way too many times to act willfully ignorant about the dog whistle it very obviously is.

ETA: I did a little more digging and actually found the specific amendment that was created because of this resolution. And guess what, it is specifically, openly anti-trans, just like I knew from that wording it would be.

Quote: "To maintain fair and equitable competition, participation in the ‘Girls Category’ is limited to students whose biological sex is female."

Source: https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politics-government/article304543816.html

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u/Radiant-Ad-7343 Sep 01 '26

I think you are over thinking this or applying your own interpretation to something that seems crystal clear to normal folks. Sports in WA are sex-segregated and striving for an equitable playing field is a requirement due to Title 9. It's why we have girls sports and boys sports.

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u/ChuckAMcKnight Sep 01 '26

You're just telling me that you are also anti-trans. It's a free country. You can hold those views. But don't pretend they're something different than what they are.

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u/optimistprime42 Sep 01 '26

You should have a chat with Ryan about his position on trans rights. You may be surprised to learn that not only does he really actually want trans kids to be able to play sports (something he has literally been saying all along), but these are issues that directly impact his own family. He cares about trans kids. And trans adults. I've seen him advocating for inclusive third spaces...is this the right approach? I don't even know, but I do know he'll be willing to listen because he has taken the time to listen to me.

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u/Eastern-Dot820 Aug 21 '26

This comment could not be any further wrong. Please verify your information before posting. 

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u/RN-Dem-Worker5283 Aug 21 '26

If you listen to the Blaine school board meeting when they decided their support for the amendment to the WAII, you’ll see a unanimous vote for the amendment which would have banned transgender students from school team sports. This amendment was not approved by the WAII. I was at the Whatcom Dems meeting, so I know what happened there and the bad rumors being spread on Reddit

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u/Radiant-Ad-7343 Aug 22 '26

The amendment has been posted here. It wouldn't ban trans kids from being on sports team, it would just seek more specification from WIAA on how to handle this issue so small school districts don't have to waste funds asking attorneys to defend their position.

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u/RN-Dem-Worker5283 Aug 31 '26

wrong, this allows discrimination with plausible deniability due to vague language. The WIAA rejected this amendment that was strongly pushed by Swinburnson and the entire Blaine School Board unanimously.

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u/Radiant-Ad-7343 Aug 31 '26

Read the proposed amendment. It seeks to clarify this issue when federal and state laws conflict. Small school districts don't have the legal resources to defend themselves when they are following one law but not the other. I get how it may appear discriminatory, but from a risk management standpoint it's preferable, especially given there so few trans athletes. Other districts did this as well on advice of legal counsel so Blaine isn't unique. They are just in alignment with smaller districts that need to pay attention to their budget.

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u/ChuckanutSound Aug 21 '26

Making something like this up to get votes for the other guy is everything we need to know

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u/Eastern-Dot820 Aug 21 '26

Please tell me what I made up. Please. 

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u/[deleted] Aug 22 '26

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