I’ve lived throughout the Midwest, Appalachia, the East Coast, and Southern California before discovering Sudden Valley. The beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the setting of the valley were everything I had imagined for my home. Within a few months, my wife and I found a small home at the top of Gate 5 with a spectacular view of Lake Whatcom and much of Sudden Valley.

Having lived in many parts of the country, I know what a unique place we have in Sudden Valley, and I also know it takes the commitment of an entire community to preserve something so special. It didn't take long for me to start meeting wonderful people and find opportunities to contribute. My first opportunity to serve was on the Architectural Control Committee, whose mission is "...to ensure the highest possible degree of harmony between natural and manmade systems…" That mission reflects the values I believe make Sudden Valley special: thoughtful stewardship, fairness, and respect for both our natural surroundings and our neighbors.

For the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as Chair of the ACC. During that time, I have met hundreds of my neighbors, worked alongside an exceptional committee, and gained a deep appreciation for the challenges of balancing individual property rights with the long-term interests of the community. The role has reinforced the importance of listening carefully, solving problems collaboratively, and seeking practical compromises whenever possible.

I realize Sudden Valley residents don’t want a Board of Directors with an agenda; they want a Board of Directors that listens and communicates. In the five years I've lived here, I've met many thoughtful and engaged neighbors who simply want to be heard and to know their perspectives are considered. I believe our best decisions are made through respectful dialogue, careful consideration, and pride in our community.

When I'm not attending ACC meetings, property tours, or Board meetings as a non-voting member, you'll likely find me kayaking, exploring Sudden Valley trails and parks with my chocolate Lab Ramon, writing haiku, or enjoying a sunset with friends on Loganberry Lane. I'm proud to be running alongside a diverse group of neighbors who bring a wide range of experience, perspectives, and a genuine commitment to serving our community.

Sudden Valley is an incredible place to live, and I believe we deserve leadership that is transparent, fiscally responsible, and truly values the voices of our residents. That's why I'm running for the Board of Directors.

My partner and I moved to Gate 9 four years ago, drawn by Sudden Valley's natural beauty, strong sense of community, and proximity to Lake Whatcom. We purchased a small lot and built our home ourselves, investing not only in a house but in the community we plan to call home for the rest of our lives.

I was born and raised in Hawaii and have worked as a school social worker for more than 20 years, supporting students and families through complex challenges. My career has taught me the importance of listening, building trust, collaborating with others, and making thoughtful, people-centered decisions.

I recently joined the Long Range Planning Committee to become more involved in helping shape Sudden Valley's future. While I was not involved in developing the recent community survey, serving on the committee has given me valuable insight into the Association's long-term planning process and reinforced my belief that residents should have meaningful opportunities to help shape important decisions.

As dues and operating costs continue to rise, I believe the Board's primary responsibility is to be a careful steward of our financial resources. Annual dues increases of 7% are not sustainable for many residents. We should focus on maintaining our roads, infrastructure, parks, trails, recreational facilities, and other community assets before committing to new multi-million-dollar projects. I also support regularly surveying the membership and sharing the results so the Board's priorities reflect the priorities of our community.

Outside of work, I enjoy mountain biking, hiking, paddling, riding motorcycles, and traveling. I'm proud to be running with a group of candidates committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, respectful dialogue, and restoring trust between the Board and our community. Together, we can build a Board that listens first, communicates openly, spends wisely, and works to preserve what makes Sudden Valley such a special place to live. I would be honored to earn your vote.

My name is Tomi Flack, and I have been privileged to call Sudden Valley my home for the past 28 years, and I hope to remain here for the rest of my life. When managed well, this community is truly an amazing place to live. Unfortunately, I believe that our current BOD is mismanaging many projects as well as our finances.

I am running for the Sudden Valley Board of Directors because I want to help restore trust between the Board and our members. I believe our HOA should listen to homeowners' concerns, develop thoughtful plans that reflect the community's priorities, and be transparent before major decisions are made. We must follow our bylaws, practice sound financial stewardship, and preserve the wildlife and bird sanctuary that makes Sudden Valley so special.

Future projects should benefit the community as a whole—not just a select group or those seeking costly, multi-million-dollar unneeded projects. What we need is to maintain and repair the parks, trails, roads, and amenities we already have. We should maintain what we have first, build only what the community truly needs, if or when we can responsibly afford it.

Our homeowners represent a wide range of financial circumstances, with homes valued from $100,000 to over $1.5 million. Many residents live on fixed incomes, and we must be mindful of the financial impact of our decisions. Very few employers provide 7% annual raises, yet our dues have increased at about that rate yearly. Fiscal responsibility should always be our priority.

I was born and raised in Washington and have a deep appreciation for nature and wildlife. My home is a small rustic log cabin built with hand-hewn logs, much like those constructed in the 1800s. I enjoy tackling home improvement projects—often with a little help from YouTube.

Over the years, I have fostered more than 60 kittens for NOAH, and many of those kitties now live with our neighbors here in Sudden Valley.

Professionally, I hold a master's degree in mental health counseling and work remotely via telehealth as a counselor for LifeStance Health. I have more than 30 years of experience helping children, teens, and adults. I have worked with the GRACE Program in Whatcom County, partnering with firefighters and sheriff's deputies to assist individuals who frequently rely on emergency services during Covid. For 15 years, I specialized in serving children and teens, designing community-based wraparound programs to help stabilize families and keep young people safe in their homes. I have also worked with an agency who managed the Medicaid budget for mental health hospitalizations.

My career has taught me the importance of listening, collaborating, finding practical solutions, and implementing them appropriately. I have 3 decades of experience in counseling, mediation, and bringing people together to solve problems. Above all, I know how to listen.

If elected, I promise that your voice will matter. You will be heard. Our members input matters!

I am also proud to be part of a team of five candidates who share the same commitment to honesty, respect, professionalism, compassion, fiscal responsibility, and transparency. Together, we will work to restore trust, protect the character of Sudden Valley, and ensure that every homeowner has a voice in the future of our community. Tomi Flack, LMHC

Sudden Valley, we can do better. Like you, we moved here for its natural beauty and friendly community. However, it’s become painfully clear that our governance doesn’t represent us with its divisive politics and spiteful policies.  With your support, we can change that. We’re a group of professionals who hope to transform our toxic leadership and restore financial sanity, transparency, and honesty to our management. 

I am retired from the University of Washington after 30 years of studying medical genetics and DNA sequencing.  I moved to Washington in 1989 to attend the UW graduate school after graduating from Texas A&M and with my wife Krista we raised two sons in Seattle.  Although I am relatively new to Sudden Valley, I regularly attend our board meetings and am a new member of the finance committee.  I also volunteer with the Whatcom Emergency Communications Group and sponsor the Green Hill Little Free Library in our neighborhood.  In my 30-year career at the UW I served on the Professional Staff Board of Directors, managed multimillion dollar studies, and hired and trained hundreds of young scientists.  As a former project manager, I believe in making data-driven decisions and using open, honest communications to manage change and seek consensus. 

Since I am new here, I am not embittered with the past grievances I often hear discussed online and am looking ahead to instill the neighborly community I discovered three years ago.  Raising two boys while in graduate school in Seattle meant I had to know how stretch a grocery budget, and it pains me to watch how our board spends our capital funds.  As a board member, I will bring the scientific integrity and discipline I learned at the UW to seek out and understand our community’s priorities, and work to deliver them with transparent and open leadership.

In retirement, I enjoy gardening, tinkering in the garage, and walking our neighborhoods with our dog Joy. 

Nearly two years ago, my partner and I left the Seattle rat race and moved to Bellingham for its unique blend of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and vibrant community life. When we discovered Sudden Valley, we immediately fell in love with the Gate 1 neighborhood for its easy lake access, nearby amenities, and welcoming atmosphere made it feel like home from day one. I’m inspired by how neighbors look out for one another and take pride in our community.

Sudden Valley is a wonderful place to live, and our Board of Directors (BOD) should reflect key values of transparency, homeowner engagement, and fiscally responsible decision making. I bring more than three decades of servant leadership experience at Microsoft and other high‑tech companies. My career focused on managing complex initiatives, guiding diverse stakeholder groups, and championing data‑driven decisions which deliver long term value.

I recently joined the Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC), expanding my knowledge in reserve studies, financial forecasting, and long‑range project assessment to better support the community’s future needs. My priority is to help the LRPC apply a consistent, structured process to all project proposals while actively incorporating community input to guide well‑informed decisions.

On a personal note, I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon with memorable stretches in California and Georgia. I made my way to Seattle after college to begin my career and start a family. Today, my two grown sons still call the Seattle area home. I am energized by new adventures, and travel remains one of my greatest joys. I love experiencing new cultures, landscapes, and perspectives exploring the Pacific Northwest and around the world.

I’m honored to be running alongside a group of candidates who share a commitment to openness, financial stewardship, respectful dialogue, and building a BOD our community can trust and be proud of.