Candidate for PUD Commissioner Lauren McCloy speaks at the Candidate Forum at Twisp Valley Grange last night.

Forum for PUD Commissioner Should Have Continued Without Absent Candidate

Democracy can’t be reduced to a single event, but democracy was skirted Thursday night when candidate for PUD Commissioner Wayne “Bud” Stevie didn’t attend the Candidate Forum at Twisp Valley Grange.

Challenger Lauren McCloy was the stronger debater in the first candidate forum during the primary. McCloy and current PUD Commissioner Bill Colyar, who was defeated in the primary, showed their mastery of macro issues facing the PUD. McCloy shared her analysis in a relatable way to voters who may not be as nerdy or wonky about electric power. 

Stevie struggled in his responses to some questions, at one point relying on his on the ground experience and saying he would work for linemen in the field.

Whether Stevie chose not to show up last night to avoid another challenge by McCloy can only be left to speculation. Dwight Filer, Board Vice President of Twisp Valley Grange, said, “The Grange committee decided to limit both candidates to a statement in what we decided was the fairest way to handle the situation.”

Colyar, who is endorsing Stevie and read his prepared remarks at the forum, said Stevie was at another meeting near Brewster. He dismissed his absence as hurting McCloy.

McCloy handedly won the primary, but then the knives came out. In her opening remarks, which was all the time she had allocated given Stevie’s absence, her statement alluded to the challenges faced by a young woman with a career and family running in a largely male profession in a rural county.

“I know that I’m a different kind of candidate than people are used to seeing run for Okanogan PUD. I think that’s a good thing. While my opponent has decades of experience in utility operations, my background is in policy, public service and consumer advocacy. Customers are best served, I believe, by a board that brings diverse skills and perspectives to the table and that represents the diversity of the people who live here.”

McCloy mentioned her experience working in the field as an electrical apprentice, but she knew she had to give blue collar workers more. Behind her presentation is another story, one that McCloy only hints at in her candid statement.

“I’m not a member of the club that historically gets PUD commissioners elected in this county. Some people don’t like that, and that’s okay. My opponent’s supporters, some of them, have worked to divide and politicize this race- it’s a nonpartisan race- spread misinformation about me and have attacked me for doing the necessary work of building my own campaign. I raised money, recruited volunteers, reached out to elected officials, gone on the radio, knocked on doors, designed my own campaign materials.”

Colyar opened with a classic statement about why grass roots and dirty boots are better.

“Bud Stevie is a lifelong resident of Okanogan County with deep roots in our community. He was born and raised on a dairy farm and orchard in Carlton and graduated from Liberty Bell High School. He has over 30 years of experience in the electrical industry and is ready to represent the rate payers of this great county.” 

Stevie’s experience is as a line foreman in the Okanogan County Electric Coop. While he worked on telephone poles, McCloy worked on macro policies relating to energy issues. She wasn’t in his boys’ club, and he made it known.

In his statement, Stevie went on to differentiate himself from a “career politician” (not sure who that is) and noted that his campaign is self-funded. I would imagine after 30 years in the field, his war chest is bigger than McCloy’s. McCloy had to fundraise.

Stevie’s statement also noted the difference between working for a public utility district and an investor-owned one, saying, “we actually work for the rate payers. When we’re spending money, we’re spending their money. We have to be very, very aware of that.”

Is he implying McCloy wouldn’t be responsible with rate payers’ money?

We don’t know, because he wasn’t there to explain.

I don’t like hit and runs. I don’t like unaccountable innuendos about someone’s character.

If this sounds like an endorsement for McCloy, it is, if for the sole reason that she showed up.

Which, in the words of Woody Allen, is 80% of the battle.

I am the founder and editor of Methow Valley Examiner, an online publication for locals, by locals. MVE explores stories beyond the headlines.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *