BATTLE GROUND — Both candidates seeking to represent Clark Public Utilities District 1 say they want to keep electricity rates low.
Sherry Erickson and James Oneil are vying on the Nov. 5 ballot to replace outgoing utility Commissioner Jim Malinowski.
Erickson, a mechanical engineer and consultant who’s worked with utilities around the country, seeks to bring her technical and leadership skills to the board. She said she has a thorough understanding of the industry, as well as degrees in engineering, business and advanced utility accounting.
“It’s important to have excellent communication skills because this is not a job. This is an opportunity for public service, which means I am not representing myself. I’m representing every customer of Clark Public Utilities,” Erickson said at a League of Women Voters debate Tuesday in Battle Ground.
Oneil, meanwhile, worked for paint giant Sherwin-Williams for almost 18 years, reaching out to public and private clients, including utilities, on marine and water projects around the Pacific Northwest. Since 2020, he has worked as a business development representative for a Vancouver-based credit union.
Oneil, a lifelong Clark County resident, said he aims to be a commissioner who gets out into the district. He said he has gone door to door on the campaign trail.
“I want to be the candidate that comes in and observes, listens, learns, asks questions and collaborates,” Oneil said during Tuesday’s debate.
The utility has three elected commissioners, each representing different regions of the county for a six-year term. District 1, by far the largest in terms of area, represents most of north Clark County. Malinowski held that seat for two terms.
Utility commissioners aren’t involved in the day-to-day operations of the utility but vote on rates, budgets, policies and plans for the water and electrical system.
Oneil said voters want to know what commissioners are doing to keep rates low. In Tuesday’s debate, he addressed a new Clark Public Utilities purchase agreement with the Bonneville Power Administration and the utility’s efforts to install a new advanced metering system to that end.
Oneil said utility customers have assumed advanced metering was some kind of “Big Brother” coming in and setting their thermostat to a certain level.
“And I kind of let them know, it’s not. It’s the PUD helping,” Oneil said.
Erickson highlighted her experience and training in rate design and cost service analysis.
“We’ve been very fortunate in Clark County with conservation and the introduction of LED lighting that we have kept rates very stable and affordable,” Erickson. “But with increased costs and operations, power supply rates have to go up.
“As a commissioner, please know that I will work hard to make sure that I keep your money in your wallet,” she added. “That’s a top priority.”
Voters will also be deciding this fall whether to repeal large swaths of the Climate Commitment Act, which Washington lawmakers passed in 2021.
Erickson said she supports accountability for environmental impacts, but she pointed to the billions of dollars California has spent on its cap-and-trade program resulting in only a 5 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
“It’s very important that (Climate Commitment Act) funds are transparent and accountable and help contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, so that we can solve the problem that we started with,” Erickson said.
She also mentioned looking at the legislation’s tax structure to keep low- and middle-income customers from bearing the brunt of the cost.
Oneil said Tuesday he’s opposed to repealing the Climate Commitment Act.
“We’ve created a lot of jobs in the energy sector, and what I’m concerned with is if that gets repealed, where are those jobs going to go,” he said.
He also pointed out the legislation funds study of energy storage methods.
“That is an area that we need to keep on moving towards,” Oneil said.
He also supported reallocating funds to further research nuclear power.
Sarah Wolf: 360-735-4513; sarah.wolf@columbian.com