Submitted by Sandy Bishop and Ande Finley
The Islands Energy Coalition (Lopez) and Transition Lopez Island will host an OPALCO Candidates Forum on Thursday, April 7 at 5 p.m. at Grace Hall. We have asked the four candidates running for two open seats on the OPALCO Board these questions;
Question: What are your qualifications to serve on the OPALCO board?
Answers:
Brian Silverstein: I worked for Bonneville Power Administration, our power supplier, for 33 years. Retiring as senior vice president for transmission, my focus was on planning, rates, operations, construction and maintenance. I worked closely with public power utilities to meet their unique needs. I regularly sought input from government, Tribes, environmental groups and citizens. I’m proud of connecting over five million kilowatts of wind power. I received a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from Cooper Union and masters in electric power from rensselaer polytechnic. I’ve attended many OPALCO board meetings to learn about the issues.
Dwight Lewis: I’ve attended almost all board of directors meetings over the last three years. I fully understand the financial problems facing the coop. I’ve been working with OPALCO over 30 years installing more than fifty miles of power cable and several under water installations. I have also run a very successful excavation business in the islands for 35 years.
Jim Lett: I was appointed to the Board in 2009 and currently serve my second term as president. I have completed required coursework to achieve credentialed director certification. With 35 years of business experience with a national insurance company as director of loss control, and vice president of commercial lines underwriting, reinsurance and marketing.
Lauren Stephens: I have 13 years experience serving the boards of Lopez School District and Fisherman Bay Sewer District. My board service gave me experience on budgeting, levy and bonding campaigns, rate setting, contract negotiation, policy, risk management, personnel and running a public utility. I’m a college graduate with twenty years running a small business on Lopez.
Question: What are your top three goals while serving on the OPALCO board?
Answers:
Silverstein:
1. Keep OPALCO rates low while maintaining financial stability.
2. Acquire all cost-effective conservation.
3. Keep the lights on and our employees safe.
Lewis: Reduce operating revenue and patronage capital back to $22 million a year by not subsidizing Rock Island broadband to the tune of more than $300 a year per coop member. Reduce monthly facility charge from $40.54 to $20 a month and keep kilowat rate charge under nine cents.
Return Co-op focus to original purpose and provide transparency. For more Google Affordable OPALCO Power for my website.
Lett: My highest priority as a director is to improve the quality of life for our members. We serve more than 11,200 members on 20 islands with an automated electrical distribution system and a fiber communications grid.
We are managing these resources to maximize member benefits and minimize costs. For the future, we are expanding those systems to meet tomorrow’s needs while keeping up with a rapidly changing environment.
Stephens: My goals as an OPALCO board member are, first, to represent small business owners and working members of our community. Recent boards are made up almost exclusively of retired men, not working people. Another goal is to encourage a board culture of transparency and responsiveness. My third goal is responsible fiscal management that includes advocating for policies that support small businesses and moderate-income members.
