Washington
PUD Association elects new officers for 2013-2014
(OLYMPIA) -- PUD Commissioners from four public utility districts assumed top
leadership positions for 2013-2014 as the Washington Public Utility Districts
Association (WPUDA) announced the election of its new officers today. The new
officers include two PUD Commissioners from the west side of the state and two
from the east side. Pend Oreille PUD Commissioner Curt Knapp was elected to
serve as President, Pacific County PUD Commissioner Diana Thompson was elected
Vice-President, Chelan County PUD Commissioner Dennis Bolz was elected
Secretary, and Lewis County PUD Commissioner Ben Kostick was elected to serve a
second term as Treasurer.
The officers serve on the Association’s Executive
Committee and Board of Directors, providing oversight and recommendations in
support of WPUDA’s mission. The Washington PUD Association represents 27
not-for-profit, community-owned public utility districts and one-joint operating
agency, Energy Northwest. WPUDA member PUDs provide electrical, water and
wastewater, and wholesale telecommunications services to approximately
one-million residential, business and industrial customers in communities
across Washington. The new officers assume an important leadership role in
achieving the Association’s mission to support, protect and enhance members’
ability to conserve power and water resources of the state and to provide
not-for-profit, locally-controlled utility services.
“It is an honor to represent the members of the
Washington PUD Association as President and I am looking forward to a
challenging and rewarding year,” said Curt Knapp, newly-elected President. “My
focus this year will be to work with the members of WPUDA to collaboratively
promote and protect the interests of our customer-owners and ensure that PUDs
continue to have the ability to provide safe, reliable and affordable,
not-for-profit services,” said Knapp. “We have great opportunity, working
together, to affect positive change and enact sound public policy that supports
our economy and keeps people comfortable in their homes while preserving and
protecting our environment.”
Pacific County
Commissioner Diana Thompson moves into her new position as Vice President having
served as the Association’s Secretary last year. Thompson is looking forward to
her new role and the opportunities it presents. "I am grateful for the
opportunity to work as part of the leadership team in an organization that
provides great value to communities served by public utility districts
including Pacific County,” she said.
Chelan PUD Commissioner Dennis Bolz has been
active in the Association for seven years, serving on the Government Relations
Committee and organizing and speaking at orientation programs for new PUD
Commissioners. “Collaboration and good information are important tools for PUD
commissioners,” said Bolz, who was elected Association Secretary. “Public power
has a great story to tell, and WPUDA plays an important role in the
conversation on local control, affordable utility rates and community service.”
Lewis County PUD Commissioner Ben Kostick has
been elected to serve another term as the Association’s Treasurer, a position
that taps his professional skill as a Certified Public Accountant. While the
other officers serve in their positions for one year, the Treasurer position is
a two-year term. ‘I am pleased to be able to use my professional experience to
support the work of the Association and I am looking forward to serving a
second term as Treasurer. I appreciate the opportunity to work in cooperation
with other public utility districts to protect the interest of Lewis County PUD
customers as well as other PUD ratepayers across the state.”
