CHIMACUM — The Chimacum Grange will host a public forum tonight with the two candidates running for Jefferson County Public Utility District Position 1.
The candidates, incumbent Barney Burke and newcomer Jeff Randall, will discuss issues facing the PUD in the coming years, including budget concerns and the rising popularity of alternative power sources, such as solar or hydro power.
According to Chimacum Grange President Diane Johnson, candidates will have five minutes for opening statements, followed by optional two-minute rebuttals.
They will then open the floor to questions from community members.
Civics lesson
“When we hosted the commission candidates three weeks ago, we had almost an hour of discussion,” said Johnson. “It really was a great civics lesson.”
Johnson said she hopes to see a turnout similar to the recent forum with Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hopefuls Kate Dean and Tim Thomas. Roughly 40 people attended that forum, she said.
Tonight’s event at the grange, 9572 Rhody Drive, will begin shortly after 7 p.m. after a short grange board meeting. Johnson said she expects the event will run no longer than 8:30 p.m.
In addition, on Thursday night in Port Townsend, the Jefferson County League of Women Voters, along with the American Association of University Women-Port Townsend and the Port Townsend &Jefferson County Leader, will host a public forum on two initiatives that will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The two-hour meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St. It will focus on Initiative 1464, which deals with public financing of elections, and Initiative 735 on the influence of corporations and money on the political system.
The first hour of this meeting will present a league “tool kit,” according to Jefferson County League of Women Voters Unit Chair Jackie Aase.
“It talks about money in politics and how we got to where we are today and possible solutions,” Aase said. “It’s a pretty in-depth document.”
Aase said the following hour will be halved so those in attendance can discuss each of the ballot initiatives for 30 minutes each.
“It’s not so much a debate as a time for people to ask questions and voice concerns,” said Aase.
Aase said they are hoping for around 50 people to attend.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.