EVERETT — They both support conservation efforts and more research for renewable sources of energy.
Where Bill Barnet and Dave Aldrich part ways is their stance on how many members should serve on the Snohomish County PUD Board of Commissioners.
They are candidates vying for commission Position No. 1, which includes Camano Island, Everett and Darrington.
Barnet, a former middle school principal and Lake Stevens City Council member, wants to increase the PUD’s board from three members to five. A larger board would dilute influence of individual board members and kindle vigorous deliberations, he said.
“A utility that size should have more than three people voting on policy,” said Barnet. “They have more than 300,000 customers and they serve more than 2,000 square miles.”
Aldrich, the incumbent who is seeking a second six-year term, said a three-member commission is more transparent to the public because two members can’t meet privately to discuss commission business under the state’s open meetings laws.
And he said he thinks the board has done a good job in the past.
“When I was first elected to office I pointed out some glaring deficiencies at the utility and tried to chart out a path toward sustainability,” Aldrich said. “We’ve kept rates stable, put money into reserves so a lot of cash is in the bank.”
Commissioners establish policies, set rates, adopt plans for electric and water utilities, approve the sale of bonds, and oversee a budget that’s expected to exceed $700 million next year.
Aldrich, who served as a policy analyst for a PUD commissioner before taking office in 2003, said the utility has done a good job holding down electrical rates for its customers while taking advantage of federal grants to explore renewable energy, including tidal, geothermal, solar and wind energy, he said.
He also said the district needs to focus on upgrading the entire electrical system to prepare for increasing demands from electric vehicles and other emerging technologies.
“We’re using 50-year-old technology,” he said. “The nature of electronics is changing dramatically and we need to accommodate that.”
Barnet said he is concerned the PUD may be outsourcing work to contractors that it should be doing itself. Looking at lucrative contracts, he said he wonders if the utility is actually saving money.
“The PUD needs to step back and look at what we’re spending,” he said.
Barnet said he would also like to see more attention paid to PUD’s water division which serves more than 18,000 customers in Lake Stevens, Granite Falls and outlying areas.
Board pay is set by the state Legislature. For commissioners starting in 2008, pay is $16,800. Commissioners are also eligible for reimbursement of up to $12,600 per year for extra PUD-related expenses and are eligible for medical benefits and receive reimbursement for allowable mileage and meals.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
Bill Barnet
Age: 65
Residence: Lake Stevens
Education: A doctorate in educational leadership and public administration at Seattle University. Completed undergraduate work at Whitworth University
Experience: Middle school principal, former Lake Stevens City Council member
Dave Aldrich
Age: 61
Residence: Everett
Education: Bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed work toward a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at California State University, Hayward (Now California State University, East Bay)
Experience: PUD commission policy analyst
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