Hi everyone,
I’m a Thurston County resident and I’ve been closely following our local water utility situation. Chris Stearns is not seeking re-election and with my background in Economics, Business, and a PMP certification( plus 10 years in the Army) I’m seriously considering a run for the PUD Commissioner seat.
Growing up in poverty and experiencing homelessness gave me a deep respect for the systems families rely on. A utility bill isn't just another line item; it's a stability factor.
My main concerns right now are:
Infrastructure: Aging pipes in Tanglewilde and Pattison are a ticking time bomb for repair costs.
Water Quality: We need to be way more aggressive about state/federal grants for PFAS ("forever chemicals") filtration so the $1.78 fee doesn't just keep climbing.
Transparency: PUD documents shouldn't be 50-page PDFs. We need modern, mobile-friendly ways for people to track spending and water quality in plain English.
I’m looking for two things from this community:
Is this a platform you actually care about?
For those served by the PUD: What is the one thing you wish the commissioners would fix tomorrow?
Honestly, I just want to make sure the basics are right for the next 30 years.