A national leader in anti-fluoridation efforts will speak Thursday and Friday in Bellingham at events organized by people opposing a proposal to fluoridate Bellingham’s drinking water.

Paul Connett, executive director of Fluoride Action Network and professor of environmental chemistry at St. Lawrence University, will be among the panelists at a public forum at Broadway Hall on Thursday.

Other panelists will include Paul Rubin of Seattle and Debra Hopkins of Tacoma, dentists who also oppose water fluoridation.

Bellingham Families for Fluoride, which sponsored the fluoridation measure appearing on November’s ballot, was invited to the panel but declined.

Co-Chair Curt Smith wrote in a letter that the group would participate in forums “sponsored by legitimate community groups such as the League of Women Voters (and) the Whatcom County Board of Health.”

“We will not sponsor a meeting ourselves and will not attend those sponsored by your organization,” Smith wrote in a letter to Citizens Against Forced Fluoride.

Organizers still hope to line up someone to present the pro-fluoridation position, said Shirley Jacobson, a member of Citizens Against Forced Fluoride.

Friday’s event will be a “drop-in social” and fund-raiser at the YWCA.

Connett will give the keynote address on “50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation,” and Hopkins will speak on “Children, Elders and Fluoridation.”

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COMING UP

• A public forum sponsored by Citizens Against Forced Fluoride will be held at Broadway Hall, at the intersection of Eldridge Avenue and Broadway, from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

• A fund-raiser for Citizens Against Forced Fluoride will be at the YWCA, 1026 N. Forest St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.

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