Just a quick note

"A person must maintain balance in their life, sometimes a difficult juggling act when the to-do list just keeps getting longer.  Fun must remain a priority or life can too easily become a mere existence"

I spent most of the day working on my old riding mower. It was time for some TLC on the old 1999 Murray.  Changed oil, lubed the chassis, sharpened and balanced the blades and cleaned the air filter. It takes a bit of work and maintenance to get the most service out of older equipment, but it is worth it when you realize how much money you save.

When finished, I cleaned my shop and put all the tools and supplies away.  Did a bit in the yard, hand to hand combat with weeds and those cursed wild blackberries.  Didn't get in any woodworking today, but it  is on my list, as are a few stained glass project,  for the future.

I am glad that I choose to run for PUD Commissioner!  This gives me the challenges that keep the blood  surging, the brain processing and, hopefully, an opportunity to serve my community in a new role.  Tomorrow, back on the campaign trail.

Thanks for your support!
Tony

Curse of the short legged dog

"If we cannot see the humor that life's events sometimes offer, we are missing the best parts of life"

Please do not get me wrong, I love dogs, all breeds and sizes although not quite as much as goats.
We have a rather unique mixed breed dog, Gypsy, a 14 year old a half dachshund, half Jack Russel mix.  In her youth, she was quite spry even with those short legs, now not so much.  My mother-in-law has a Boston terrier, Darby, now 13 and still quite active.

Now to the point of this story.  I am the person who mows and cares for both rather large lawns, ours and my mother-in law's.  Having short legged dogs that are reluctant to go out to do their duty when the grass is even a bit too tall results in far more attention to lawn maintenance than I would otherwise deem adequate.  Having just finished mowing both lawns, this was on my mind and thought would share.

The reason I am more fond of goats?  They mow their own lawn!

Tomorrow promises a clear sunny day, great for seeking those "treasures" at local garage sales.  Maybe I will see you there.

Tony

What is ahead for PUD

"You may have some idea of where you are going, but, if you do not know where you are now, charting the correct course is nearly impossible".

I have been asked a few times what I see as the future for our PUD. That future, to some extent, will depend on who takes office in January.

I tend to think of planning in three phases:  short term (first year), mid range (year two and three) and long term (years four and five). These plans should roll ahead each year.   Beyond that, you can develop planning models based on estimates, statistical analysis and best guesses (unfortunately, my crystal ball is in the shop) that will give you some idea of what may come.

For the short term (first year), I would recommend putting a hold on all new projects to which we have not contractually committed.  We should work to get back to basics, fix the billing issues, develop a strong financial system that is kept current, with line item accounting so staff and commissioners could know how well each department and system is performing within their separate budgets.  Other first year priorities would be developing a robust, user friendly conservation program for water and power.  Keeping our constituents and customers informed on PUD activities and coordinating a proactive assistance program for our less fortunate neighbors would be high on that that list as well.

More on planning in future issues.
Tony

PS  My wife set up a facebook for the campaign today.  I will be posting in that as well, hopefully with fresh material.  She says that if several people "like" it, it will be somehow more accessable.
Thanks

Planning is a priority

"The best intentions and efforts, without proper planning, have little chance of success.  Running a PUD without adequate, detailed plans in place is like nailing a bunch of lumber together hoping it will become a house".   Tony De Leo

Plans probably exist within our PUD, but, I feel, we should ask for them if they are not adequately shared with us.  We are the owners of our PUD and it is the duty of our commissioners to share how they view the future of our utility.

I will speak often on planning during the campaign .  One of the most important duties for a PUD commissioner is to assure that adequate, in depth planning is done before any project begins.

Knowing your destination makes finding the right path far easier.  Sometimes it is difficult, however,  to determine when to stop planning and start doing.  In far too many instances, an organization or, for that matter, an individual, can come down with a bad case of analysis paralysis, when the plan replaces project as all encompassing mission.

We have population projections, future utility demand estimates based on historical data and the current capacity of our power and water supply and their related infrastructures. These comprise most of what is required for comprehensive planning.  Before any water line or electrical supply conductor is installed, careful assessment of current and future needs should be the driving force in determining where they will go and how big they should be.

My plan for tomorrow is to live the day to its fullest potential, how about you?
Tony

Life it too short

"Our time here is far too short so take the time to cherish the moment, laugh a bit and have that bowl of ice cream!"  Tony De Leo

Commitments in our professional and personal lives can so fill every moment of our days that there never seems the time to enjoy the fruits of our labors.  We take the time to mow the lawn but never spread a blanket on it and relax.  The car gets washed and waxed but, with all we have to do, how could we possibly fit in a road trip?

We have to strike a balance between duty and enjoyment.  In my case, I truly take my job, whatever it may be, quite seriously while, on occasion, taking a moment to lighten my load, and those of others, with a bit of merriment and laughter.   It seems that there are two kinds of people, those who take their jobs seriously while others take themselves seriously (frequently to excess).  I enjoy a good laugh, even if it is at my expense.  If we cannot laugh at ourselves, we will miss out on so much!

P. S.

Technology has reached the De Leo household.  Today, by necessity, I traded my old flip phone for a "smart" phone.  Now the fun begins, so if you receive an undecipherable text or a call with odd noises in the background, you will know you have joined me on the slopes of this steep learning curve.

This was a great day spent with my wonderful wife!!
Tony

Comments on conservation

"Occasionally, when you do the right thing for the right reasons, consequences occur that create new, sometimes unexpected, challenges"    Tony De Leo

Efforts to conserve our resources, be it power or water, make sense for all the right reasons including being better for the environment, reducing infrastructure expansion for future needs and saving money for our PUD customers.   A bonus is that the costs of electric conservation are paid with funds allotted by the Bonneville Power Administration.

This sounds like a win-win situation for our PUD and its customers, right?.  Unfortunately, it is not as simple as it sounds.  When you have large expenses, conservation can be a problem in that every gallon of water or kilowatt of electricity not sold results in a reduction in funds available to pay the PUD's obligations.

What is the answer to this dilemma?  In the past, very successful conservation programs, whether planned or the result of unexpected shortages, have forced the utility or PUD to raise the unit cost to its customers in order to make ends meet.  If everything goes right, the customer's bill should not be significantly larger so long as they actively participate in the conservation effort.  In the long run, the cost of running the PUD may be reduced because fewer high-cost expansions to power and water lines will be needed.

Something to think about, and discuss.
Tony

A day off

"Family is such an important part of lives so we must be careful to not let them slip down the priority list, replaced by supposedly more important things."   Tony De Leo

 Our daughter and her four kids came over from Puyallup today to spend time with Gramma and PaPa (my wife and I).  There is nothing more invigorating than having 4 young people, ages 4-9, running around the house, kept in by a rainy afternoon.  Did I mention their somewhat large dog??  It was quite refreshing to have my mind diverted from Hospital District and campaign issues for a few hours.

Tonight I am working the latest revisions of the Policy Governance program used by us on the Hospital Board and a few other miscellaneous projects.  Back to the grind tomorrow though that might be delayed briefly should one or two "Honey-Do" projects take priority.

Hope you had / are having a wonderful holiday with your family.

To all of you who served our county in the armed forces, thank you for all the blessings we have received through your sacrifices!!!

Tony

Choosing your hills

 "With age and experience, we develop the wisdom that allows us to better determine when an issue is a hill to die on"   Tony De Leo

In my youth, it seemed that most significant issues were hills to die on, in other words, worth the investment of much energy and resources, frequently finding that the outcome did not justify it.  When in the thick of it, spending $100.00 to resolve a $5 issue may seem a sensible action but usually results in a dismal return on investment.

An example of this occurred at a recent PUD meeting.  A customer with a net metering device (part of a solar power generating system) proposed a solution , self-reporting, as used by Clallam County PUD, allowing our PUD to comply with state law and create good will without increased expense.  For reference, there are only nine net metering customers served by our PUD.  This suggestion fell by the wayside, resulting in one of those dangerous hills I mentioned earlier.

I have learned, sometimes the hard way, that when you are up against a brick wall, there are more than one plan of action.  You can always bang your head against it but that usually only results in a nasty headache.  A more rational approach is to step back, take a moment to assess the situation, and, frequently, you will find a way to go over, around or under it.

Have a wonderful holiday and remember those who payed so dearly for our freedom!!!
Tony

Enough time to commit?

 "I feel that much of the groundwork has been laid for the PUD, however, much work needs to be done to bring the PUD up to a level of service that we, the customers, WE, THE OWNERS deserve."
Tony De Leo

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting of the Friends of Public Power this evening.  My fellow candidates, Ken McMillen and Kenneth Collins, also attended and, during the candidates' presentations and subsequent question and answer session, a great deal of information was exchanged and, I feel, those attending had the opportunity to learn each candidate's position on many issues and we, the candidates, received input as to the concerns of those attending.

After the formal session, someone asked if I had enough time to commit to both the Hospital Board and the PUD Board while still being able to fulfill the commitments to both.  I answered that, on a busy week with the Hospital District, I spend as much as 15 hours for meetings, pre-meeting preparation and training.  Other weeks require less.   Being retired now, I have adequate time to devote to serving my community through both organizations.


My experience, gained from a lifetime of community service, including serving 41 years as an elected Commissioner for Jefferson County Public Hospital District No.2 (Jefferson Healthcare), a municipal corporation with an annual budget of over $70 million dollars, qualifies me to represent you and your future on the PUD Board.

Thank you Friends of Public Power and Jeff Randall for providing this forum.
Tony

Point position problems

"When you use a contract vendor, especially when not locally based, to provide ongoing services, you loose the commitment and coordination you would otherwise have when those tasks are done by your own staff"   Tony De Leo

In a large organization, there are entire departments of people dedicated to a specific service or function, resulting in quality, timely outcomes.  When smaller in size, you run into "point position problems".  These are the result of assigning duties in several areas of the operation to a single person, allotting .3 FTE (full time equivalent) to X duties, .4 FTE to Y duties and .1 FTX to Z duties, allowing .2 FTE for them to accomplish everything else on their to-do list.  Requiring one person to wear many hats can result in less than optimal outcomes.  This looks great in a paper budget, but seldom works in real life.

The option, hire an outside company to preform the duties for which you do not have enough people or expertise.  For the short term on specific projects, this will work most of the time.  As to on-going, day to day operations, this can be very expensive and usually results in unmotivated and uncoordinated efforts.

Hiring people with the appropriate expertise and background can go a long way toward reaching your goals successfully and cost effectively.  If there is just not enough money in the budget or you do not need this their services full time, possibly look into sharing them with other similar agencies.

Another great day,
Tony

Loss of protection and regulation

"Keeping control closer to home should result in outcomes that are better suited to to those affected"
Tony De Leo

One of the things we lost (or gained) when our PUD took over power delivery from PSE was the rate regulation and assistance with customer issues provided by the Washington State UTC.

For a privately or investor owned utility to raise the rates it charges its customers, that increase has to be approved by the Washington State Utilities and Transportation commission.  Now, as a PUD, the rates charged, including rate increases, are solely under the authority of your PUD Commissioners. In fact, RCW 54.24.080 (section 1 below) requires the PUD to set rates high enough to assure payment of its obligations:

1) The commission of each district which shall have revenue obligations outstanding shall have the power and shall be required to establish, maintain, and collect rates or charges for electric energy and water and other services, facilities, and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the district. The rates and charges shall be fair and, except as authorized by RCW 74.38.070 and by subsections (2) and (3) of this section, nondiscriminatory, and shall be adequate to provide revenues sufficient for the payment of the principal of and interest on such revenue obligations for which the payment has not otherwise been provided and all payments which the district is obligated to set aside in any special fund or funds created for such purpose, and for the proper operation and maintenance of the public utility and all necessary repairs, replacements, and renewals thereof.

As to assistance with customer billing disputes, service complaints, disconnect notices, deposit problems, etc,  the state UTC had provided access to consumer protection specialists, but now your issues will be addressed locally by PUD customer service people.

Thank you for viewing this.
Tony

Cracking the Code

"When we all speak the same language, avoiding buzz words, acronyms and jargon, information can be shared more clearly and efficiently, leading to collaboration." 
Tony De Leo

I attended the PUD meetings today, first for the USGS presentation, then the regular Commissioner meeting.  I had the opportunity to chat with fellow candidates Kenneth Collins and Ken McMillen and feel that this will be a campaign based on mutual respect for each other.

After reading the agenda for today, I requested , during the public comment section, that the Commissioners and PUD staff not use acronyms, industry jargon or buzzwords or at least explain their meaning when used.  The board seems committed to keeping their constituents informed on its issues and activities but the use of terms not familiar to the general public could hamper this effort.  They all seemed to receive this suggestion very well and worked through the rest of the meeting avoiding their use.

Good meeting, our PUD is working hard to resolve numerous problems arising from the PSE takeover.  I must admit, however, that I wanted to roll up my sleeves and join the effort.  We will just have to wait for November (or maybe August) to see if I will have that opportunity.

"What a great county we live in, one that gives each of us the ability to affect its future, but only if we choose to participate!"
Tony

Get informed  Get involved

"We, the people, need to remain informed on the issues facing our PUD and, with this knowledge, we should become and remain involved on the future of our area."  Tony De Leo

"The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created."  Legislative Declaration from WAC 42.30, Washington State Open Public Meetings Law.


 PUD#1 of Jefferson County Board of Commissioners will be holding a special meeting on Tuesday,  May 20, 2014, at 2PM at their office, 230 Chimacum Road, to receive a presentation from the US Geological Survey on the Chimacum Creek groundwater model.  The USGS presentation will be repeated on May 20, 5:30 - 7:30 at the Tri-Area Community Center.  This will be their final presentation.

Although conservation of resources, be it water or power, is the most responsible approach to maintaining adequate supplies for our current and future needs, knowing what options we have for future development of additional supplies is an important part of the decision making process.

I hope to see you at the USGS presentation and at the PUD's regular meeting on May 20, 5PM.

Enjoy the sunshine!
Tony

Above and beyond code

"There are frequently good reasons for actions we take, as individuals and groups, and these reasons are occasionally  not well explained, but more is better or because that's the way it is, are not adequate justification for an action"  Tony De Leo

In the past few days, in conversation with two different local electrical contractors, they raised the issue that the our PUD has enacted rules and requirements for new electrical service connections above and beyond the current NEC codes.  In addition, they relayed that, when addressing this issue with the PUD, their comments and requests for determinations were dismissed without what they felt was appropriate review.

I am sure that there is a good reason our PUD raised the standards above those of other utilities.   However, these contractors put their lives and reputations on the line with each and every job and I cannot believe that they would do anything that would jeopardize their customer's safety or the quality of their work.  After all, their income and futures are at stake.

Maybe these standards should remain in place, or maybe they should be reviewed, but, in any event, our PUD should communicate better with the contractors and customers and be open to their thoughts and professional opinions.  I am no expert on electrical codes or procedures, but, when professionals in the field express issues, I listen.

Congratulations to the Rhody runners!!!  To me, anyone who finishes is a winner!!
Tony

Applying for the job

"I have applied to you, the owner of Jefferson County PUD, for the position of Commissioner and,  should you select me for this job, I will work to the best of my ability to live up to your expectations."
Tony De Leo

When I applied for this, I was seeking a new and different way to serve my community.  I see this more like applying for a job than being in a popularity contest.  I submit my resume' to you, along with my vision of how I could make a difference in the future of this organization, and then you, after comparing them with those of the other applicants, will choose who is the most qualified person to work for you during the next six years.

As with any candidate screening process, I am sure that you will have many questions for me. Please ask them at any time throughout the campaign, not just at the debates,  I would hope that my answers will help you make your decision.  If my answers do not seem to cover the topic, please ask again.
Contact at:   DeLeo4PUD@Gmail.com

Have a great evening!
Tony

Solar Energy

Not only do the longer days, sunny days increase our personal energy levels, it can create clean renewable electric power.

"A brighter future for Jefferson County is in the hands of our citizens and our PUD.  Together we can develop a strong commitment to solar and other alternative power generation systems, good for us and for those who will follow"  Tony De Leo



Today, I had the opportunity to learn how far solar power generation has come as compared to the simple solar panels I had on my RV to keep the batteries charges.  Mr. Jeff Randall, of Power Trip Energy Corporation, Port Townsend, took time from his busy schedule to share some of his vast knowledge of,  and experience with, the expanding possibilities, and financial benefits, of harnessing the sun to provide for our electrical needs.

These advanced, far more efficient solar systems are an ecologically responsible, renewable source of power for our homes and businesses.  They can even provide excess power, sending it to the grid to help provide for the energy needs of our community.  They produce no harmful emissions, do not require large hydro dams and do not create the nuclear waste (spent fuel rods) or the potential disasters,such as Chernobyl,  associated with nuclear power generation.

From my research, other PUD's, including our neighbor, Clallam County PUD, have committed to providing incentives and support for individuals and businesses considering alternate energy generation, including working with a lender, First Federal, to arrange low cost loans for the installation of solar systems.  State and federal financial incentives are also available for the initial installation and continuing system use.

Jefferson County has the highest per capita number of utility customers with grid-tied renewable energy systems (solar photovoltaic) in the state, nearly 1%.  Think of the potential for growth should our, OUR, PUD commit to a strong support program in this area.  The benefits to our county would include power dollars kept here, local jobs created in the alternate energy field and the reduction of the future cost of expanding the capacity of the traditional power distribution system.

Thank you for stopping by, have a great Rhody!!!
Tony

On campaign signs and doorbelling

I spoke with a trusted friend today, one I feel knows more about politics than I, and she told me that is is important that I purchase and put up campaign signs.  She pointed out that this reinforces name recognition when people go to vote.

She also pointed out that doorbelling can be the difference between a victory at the polls or a defeat.

She is a great friend and I trust her council, but, neither of these tactics have ever helped me make my decision as to who to choose.  Please let me know what you all think, should I change my plans to include these two methods or stick with my initial take on it.

Thank you
Tony

I accept the challange!

 I accept the challenge issued today in the Leader by Pastor David Hodgin!  A major reason I decided to run for PUD was, and is, based on the hardships of our most vulnerable citizens and today's Leader article has strengthened my resolve and energized me to work toward protecting those in financial crisis.  Churches and charitable organization should not be forced to pick up where PSE left off.
 
Today's article in the Leader on Michele MacRae deeply troubles me, this should not be allowed to happen.  When PUD took over from PSE, they not only accepted the power system, they should have accepted the responsibility to serve our citizens, all citizens, not just those with the resources to pay their bill.  PSE, a for profit corporation, made it possible for low income individuals and families to receive power, shouldn't our PUD, owned by us, at least do as much, if not more.

If there is, in fact, law that prohibits the PUD from using public funds to assist those in need, and I feel there must be a way as other PUD's in Washington State have more substantial programs, then the PUD should lead the charge, organizing groups, churches, charitable organizations, and citizens to create a system to provide assistance.

The Washington State Constitution, ratified by the voters in 1889, addressed the gifting of public funds, but also made provision for allowing assistance to those in need.

Washington State Constitution, Article VIII, STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS:

Section 7  CREDIT NOT TO BE LOANED.  No city, town or other municipal corporation shall hereafter give any money, or property, or loan its money, or credit to or in the aid of any individual, association, company or corporation, except for the necessary support of the poor and infirm, or become directly or indirectly the owners of any stock in or bonds of any association, company or corporation.

I would assume that the underlined section above is the basis that allows the state, and other government entities,  to provide such programs as Welfare, Medicaid and the other numerous support programs paid for with public funds.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit, please share your thoughts with me.
Tony

As our days warm with the season, demand for resources will increase.  Electric fans help for indoor comfort, but, as we all know, nothing beats air conditioning but with this comfort comes an unfortunate increase in power utilization.

Lawns are beautiful, flowers bloom, and our vegetables are starting to grow toward the sky.  Out come the sprinklers, the answer to wilting pea vines and browning of our lawns.  Drip irrigation for our food crops and fruit trees are far more efficient and replacing water hungry landscaping with drought resistant plants and ground cover will not only save you money but will also conserve our vital resource, water.  Three cheers to all of you who have installed rain water barrels and retention systems for your irrigation.  You really take a load off our water system.

With the sun comes increased output from the solar panels which not only save you money on electricity, you might even be producing power for your neighbors.  Local generation of power keeps dollars local, allows area growth with less expansion of infrastructure and help keep the air we all breath a bit cleaner.

Thank you all for doing your part in conserving our resources.  Our futures depend on these efforts and, with increased support from our PUD, the future looks better already.

Filing Day
As of 8:30 this morning, I have officially entered the race for Commissioner for Jefferson County PUD No. 1, District 2.  Unfortunately, the path to election will have to be put on hold for a day or so until I get the upper hand in the battle with this cold that seems to be going around.  It is a rather nasty bug!!

I will be meeting with my campaign committee (my wife, Sherry) later today to discuss plans for the race.  Business cards have been ordered and are on the way.  There are debates and visitations to local groups and clubs to be planned, any opportunity to share my thoughts with you and gain yours.  A few friends have offered to help with this effort and, of course, there is always room for more people willing to support me in seeking this opportunity to serve our community.  You can contact me at
DeLeo4PUD@Gmail.com.

 While at the courthouse this morning, I had the opportunity to meet Jeff Randall of Power Trip Energy and Friends of Public Power.  We chatted for a bit, discussing local generation of power and other issues.  I will be meeting with him in the future and visiting his company to learn more on solar power.

I have a lot to learn about the services provided by our PUD, water, power, waste water and fiber optic systems.  I am fortunate in that since I do not know all the answers, I will keep asking the questions.

I feel that conservation should be a vital part of assuring capacity for our current and future needs. I feel that more needs to be done in this effort.  Community growth,  commercial and residential, will depend on an adequate utilities system.   Both water and power are valuable resources and the gallon or kilowatt saved today will result in less infrastructure needing to be built tomorrow.

My hope is that my ideas for our PUD's future, combined with yours, will result in a victory at the polls.  Win or loose, however, if I can raise our community's awareness of the issues facing our local utility and convince our citizens that their voices, not only through the ballot, but at each and every PUD Commission meeting, and communication with the Commissioners, will have a significant impact on shaping the future of our community, I will have made a contribution.

As I prepare for the campaign to begin tomorrow, thoughts of the people in my live who have had a significant impact on who I am today flowed through my mind.

My parents, especially my father, Micky De Leo, having grown up during the depression, taught me to be frugal.  He believed that need, not want, should be the reason to buy something.  If he was still with us, I am sure he would have some rather graphic comments on replacing something you already own with  the latest, greatest version, just because it is cool.  I learned from him the satisfaction  of repairing something, extending its service life.

During my time as a volunteer firefighter/EMT with Port Townsend Fire Department, I served under Chief Robert Jones.  Chief Jones, a contemporary of my father, has a similar frugal mindset and always found a way to make do with the equipment we had, keeping it maintained, getting the best return for the tax dollar spent.  With only 5 paid staff, including himself, and some 30 volunteers, he provided excellent fire and rescue services to our city for many years.  He had a way of bringing out the best in his team, paid or volunteer, and always got the job done.  Some say it was his sense of humor, others say it was that he instilled his commitment to service in them.

After a very successful save of a large, downtown building.  A Seattle firefighter asked Jones how was it possible for you to save that building with his limited resources.  He replied "because no one told us we couldn't".  Some of our efforts can be stiffed by immovable  obstacles, laws, etc., but I have always believed in the old saying "if there is a will, there is a way".  Some doors appear to be locked, but, before changing plans,  we should always try the doorknob first.

Vic Dirksen, former CEO for our hospital and friend for over 30 years, believes that there is inherent good in every person, that each of us has individual thoughts, ideas and values and they should be heard and respected.  He found that, frequently, the solution to a perplexing problem can come from the most unlikely source.

My wife, Sherry, has taught me the meaning of true, unquestioning love.  She also has instilled in me an environmental consciousness that includes the three "R's", reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Our Grandkids have shown me, by example, that there is still beauty and joy in the world  Through their eyes, I again see the wonder of a flower, the joy of laughter and so many other simple pleasures.  It seems we loose this vision of wonder as we mature.  Thank goodness for the children who can jolt us back to reality.

As with all of us, I are the sum of the people and occurrences that have filledmy being.  So many to thank, a few, no so much.  What matters is how we use who we are and what part of the lives of others we play.  When I leave this world, I would hope that I have, in some small way, made it a better place and that I have lightened lives with laughter.

I attended the PUD meeting last Tuesday evening and, amid all of the other business, a brief report covered the power disconnects scheduled for the next day.  I believe there were to be 10.  As with such  statistical reports, they were just numbers, without faces and stories.

That evening, I returned home a bit later than usual.  My wife reheated our dinner with the microwave.  While I was waiting, I washed up with hot water followed by a trip to the fridge for a cool beverage.  After dinner, we watched a bit of TV in our warm, well lit living room.  Before going to bed, we touched base with our daughters via computer and got the latest on the antics of our grandkids.

As I was lying in bed trying to get to sleep, I couldn't help but think how fortunate my wife and I are.  We live in a small, modest home, but it has all the necessities.  Then, those 10 disconnects filled my mind as I tried to imagine the terrible impact that action would have on the lives to be affected.  What brought these families to this point, an illness or other tragedy, loss of a job, were they away and missed the bill?  Regardless, this was going to happen and, worst of all, not only will they have to catch up on their bill, there will be the additional reconnect fee, $250.00 I believe.

The rest of the night that old Garth Brooks song "The Ones the Wolves Pull Down" ran through my mind and I couldn't help but think that we could, and must, do more for our  neighbors in financial crisis.

Good Evening,

Monday, filing day, is rapidly approaching and I am excited about the possibility of  serving our community as a Commissioner for Jefferson County PUD No. 1, District 2.

As the days pass, I will continue to share my ideas for improving our PUD and am looking forward to hearing from you.  After all, if elected, I will be your voice in the decision making for our publicly owned utility.

Thank you for stopping by to chat!
Tony