The big news today is that Bellingham Mayor, Mark Asmundson has handed in his resignation in order to accept a position as manager from Northwest Clean Air Agency. He will finish in office on November 1 leaving Bellingham City Council the task of choosing an interim replacement for him until the election in November 2007.

Asmundson announced his resignation in an email to all city employees, some of whom thought that it was a joke because it was so unexpected.

Over the past 10 years as mayor, Asmundson has seen Bellingham go from being a small former mill town to being a bustling city that is continously ranked as one of the best places in America to live by various publications. Love him or hate him, Asmundson and his often controversial policies have helped the city grown into what it is today.

For more information about his resignation see this article in the Bellingham Herald. For more information on what he has achieved and policies that he has been involved with over his political career, click here.