As PUD Commissioner, my commitment would be to safety, reliability and affordability. Starting with careful attention towards fiscal responsibilities but never wavering in the protection of our precious water supplies. Actively listening to Thurston community members and the PUD’s staff of experts is the most important first part of the decision making process. Working together we can make the responsible choices necessary to supply clean water at an affordable price.
It has been a blessing to call Washington home since arriving for national service over 20 years ago. During that time, I’ve been paying attention to the development & protection of our precious water resources. The PUD has been taking on challenging water systems, often in need of major upgrades. This has allowed Thurston PUD to grow while building strong experience. These challenging & wide ranging water systems need proper stewarding for improving services. I am running to meet these challenges, plus all future ones. From demanding environmental needs to solutions found in water resource cooperation!
Future development will be built on growing group water systems rather than single exempt wells. Our aquifers have been straining in late summers during recent years. Maintaining intact and sustainable groundwater requires coordinated management. The public is realizing how much is at stake if our water supply falls into disrepair and disorder. I’ll be working together with my fellow PUD Commissioners, as well as with water utility decision makers across Thurston County and around the state to implement best practices to make sure we continue to have excellent water for generations to come.
Rolling up my sleeves at the PUD!
Maintaining & protecting our pure water is the sacred duty of the PUD. My first two years will be metaphorically chopping wood & carrying water, preparing to bridge the looming flood of retirements. By diving in to soak up the institutional wisdom, I hope to further public trust.
I learned about the PUD by volunteering for the Thurston Public Power Initiative. That 2012 initiative, on the same ballot that first elected my opponent, would’ve allowed the PUD to provide electricity if it had passed. The “No Campaign” spent $656,158.84, all from corporations, but this is not why the initiative lost. The real reason was because we weren’t ready & today we still aren’t. Water is deserving of the full focus of Thurston PUD and it’s Commissioners. I’ve come to this conclusion based on the facts as I see them concerning the changing energy market, the situation with interest rates and the questions of scale.
My position on the complete travesty of paying fealty each month to a foreign owned private electric monopoly remains strong! However, I no longer see the Thurston PUD as the solution to that. Our Governor should bring this travesty to heel, not our PUD. That will take confronting how this foreign corporate person is manipulating our elections. Their continued interference is a strong motivation for my running today. The incumbent I am up against has the backing of this foreign corporate person’s money and power.
This foreign owned private electric monopoly behemoth is spending money we send it on greasing the palms of politicians across the state. That they’re continually pouring money into our local elections for PUD Commissioners is especially concerning. Foreign owners disrupting the people’s choice and the growth of Public Utility Districts, in order to manipulate the market by preventing competition, is an attack on our democracy, fundamental rights and national sovereignty! It makes me absolutely furious. This election should be about which candidate the people judge best for the PUD, not which candidate best serves the profits of the foreign owners of the private electric monopoly.
Despite the uphill battle, I’m running a clean campaign for a smooth transition. I work as a North Thurston Public Schools Transportation Specialist, member of PSE SEIU Local 1948, as a Stagehand, member of IATSE Local 15, & as an arborist. Elect me & I won’t just be sitting at public meetings. I’ll be at PUD sites bucking downed timber, humping heavy cable, driving big trucks, training new workers, teaching young people & making informed decisions. There is no better way to understanding the needs of PUD sites, equipment, workers and customers than experiencing it in the field.
Congratulations Bruce! Bruce Lerro and I can’t think of anybody better to be in this position. We would like to donate to your campaign. How do we do that?
Barbara