LIHU‘E — With six small-scale hydroelectric projects, a 12-megawatt solar farm and an island-wide rollout of smart meters on the horizon, it’s arguably the most significant time in the history of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative. Nine co-op members are
LIHU‘E — With six small-scale hydroelectric projects, a 12-megawatt solar farm and an island-wide rollout of smart meters on the horizon, it’s arguably the most significant time in the history of the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative.
Nine co-op members are competing for three three-year seats on the board of directors in this year’s election.
KIUC will mail member ballots on March 5. The deadline for members to cast their votes is March 24.
To help introduce these candidates to the community, The Garden Island posed six questions to each. A different candidate’s response is being published each day from Feb. 23 to March 2.
TGI requested that the responses be limited to 100 words.
Pat Gegen answers TGI’s questions.
Q: Why are you running for a seat on the board of directors?
A: The board has some fabulous opportunities to help Kaua‘i become an energy-independent and a sustainability model for the rest of the world. Our cooperative, with important input from the member-owners, could help lead the process to move beyond our current reality and toward a future that’s poised to help our children and grandchildren prosper with more options than we have. Our energy production on this island has deteriorated more in the past 20 years than it has improved, and we’re not moving quick enough in a smart process to reverse this trend. I want a brighter future — yesterday.
Q: Why do you believe you are the best choice for the board?
A: I have over 12 years of experience in the energy industry and have an understanding of the difficulties and challenges we face in trying to meet our energy needs while preserving the environment and doing it in a way that benefits our entire Kaua‘i community. I understand the need for our cooperative to engage the member-owners in designing our energy future and determining the most appropriate path to get there. I am passionate about energy, efficiency, conservation and education. Ask anyone who knows me, and they will tell you I live by these passions — not just talk about them.
Q: What should KIUC do to improve its services to members?
A: In my opinion, the daily services provided by KIUC’s employees are excellent. Improvements need to occur at the board level. Start by making better communication between the board and member-owners a way of doing business rather than a subcategory of “attention to members” within the revised 2010 – 2023 strategic plan. The board needs to have meaningful discussions regarding significant and potentially controversial initiatives prior to voting on them. The board needs to be more responsive and open to the concerns of member-owners, and do everything within their power to deliver cheaper and cleaner electricity.
Q: What should KIUC do to help members reduce energy costs?
A: Become more aggressive in residential and business energy reduction programs. Make consumer-side programs as flexible and easy as possible. Many members do not take advantage of programs offered by KIUC because they think it takes too much work or there are too many barriers. Helping individuals and businesses save money will save us all money by reducing the need for additional electrical generation and by helping businesses keep their overhead down so they can be successful and competitive. Effective educational outreach to help member-owners understand significant options for reducing their energy needs — just turning out lights isn’t enough.
Q: If you could change one thing about the co-op, what would it be?
A: The majority of the board members. The current majority voted to proceed with controversial initiatives after being advised to listen more closely to the membership, which has and continues to create seemingly irreconcilable viewpoints, costing all members more money. The current majority voted down initiatives to make actions of the board more open to the public, they voted against giving members more direct democratic control when board vacancies occur, and they voted against increasing help provided individual members and businesses to decrease their energy needs. We need a board that values member-owners and shows it through actions.
Q: Briefly, please describe your advanced education and most significant professional contributions that would be transferable to KIUC.
A: My educational background is in educational psychology at the master’s level. This training has provided me the skills to listen, to understand and to deal with opposing viewpoints in a constructive manner. These and other skills have allowed me to become a successful facilitator, manager, educator and leader. I understand organizations and how important it is for leaders to shape the culture (by how they lead and their example) within an organization for it to be flexible, efficient, productive and ultimately successful.
To meet the candidates in person, the Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce and Lihu‘e Business Association will co-host a candidate forum at 7:30 a.m. today in Room 106 of the Office of Continuing Education and Training at Kaua‘i Community College.
A co-op member becomes a candidate after being selected by the KIUC Nominating Committee or by submitting a petition with 35 members’ signatures.
In addition to second-term incumbents Steve Rapozo and Stewart “Stu” Burley, the nominating committee selected Lesther Calipjo, Joel Guy and Calvin Murashige for the ballot.
Candidates running by member petition include Gegen, Joann Georgi, Ken Stokes and Karen Baldwin.
∫ Vanessa Van Voorhis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681, ext. 251, or by emailing vvanvoorhis@thegardenisland.com.
