The Voters Have Decided

We won't know whether a PUD would really have worked for Whidbey Island. At least not in this election cycle.

Ask the PUD commission candidates to pledge.

I'm concerned about voting to form a Public Utility District (PUD) on Whidbey Island. While I think that local control is great, there are just too many unknowns. We need the results of a feasibility study to know if this will work for us.

Right now, voters are being asked to form a PUD and elect three commissioners. Then the district will levy a modest tax (proponents are saying about $5 per year for an average homeowner) for a feasibility study. Based on the study, the commissioners will decide whether to go ahead with setting up a local electric utility.

The problem with this process is that setting up the utility relies on trusting the candidates for the PUD commission to make a decison for the rest of us. Estimates for the cost of acquiring the PSE infrastructure run as high as $200 million. That's an awful lot of money for us to trust to three individuals that have no decision-making track record in our community.

Petition for candidate pledges:
I want the candidates to pledge to put the decision to set up a local utility to the voters. I request a formal election after the feasibility study is complete. I support including the cost of an election in the cost of the feasibility study when determining the initial tax levy.

To sign this petition, please send a comment to this post with the following:

• your full name as listed on your voter registration
• your address as listed on your voter registration
• your phone number
• a statement that you are a registered voter on Whidbey Island.
• other comments if you want

Note: When you comment to sign the petition, you can choose either Name/URL or Anonymous as your identity. You do not need to log in or provide a password.

I'll publish the names, cities and comments of those who sign. I'll keep the addresses and phone numbers private, to be given only to commission candidates at their request. They may want to verify signatures.

Only comments that include a full name and address, plus an indication that you are a registered Whidbey voter, will be counted as petition signatures. I will not post comments that are off-topic or that include inappropriate language. Please keep it clean and civil.

Response from candidates
October 29, 2008: Pat Harman signed the petition and wrote: "I support the requirement to get an approval vote from the citizens if the commission decides to go forward and purchase PSE assets and go into the electric utility business."

Petition signatures

1. Nancy Snow, Langley
2. Michael P. Snow, Langley
3. Gareth Snow, Langley
4. Ron Ward, Freeland: We trust you new commissioners, but would like to see what you are voting on before you approve it.
5. Lois Ann Chowen, Freeland
6. Eileen Jackson, Langley
7. Everell M. LeBaron, Langley
8. Kathryn E. LeBaron, Langley
9. Doreen Quayle Johnson, Greenbank
10. Lawrence Dobson, Clinton: We need to do a local PUD power feasibility study, then let the citizens of Island County determine what shape local power takes. Certainly, the study team needs to be part of developing the plan.
11. Sharen D. Heath, Langley: I ask the PUD commissioners to pledge as Nancy Waddell recommends.
12. Lisa Yarrow, Freeland
13. John J. Chaffey, Clinton
14. Patrick D. Harman, Oak Harbor
15. Malcolm Ferrier, Langley
16. Drew Kampion, Langley