Ballots were mailed out last week to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members of record (those named on accounts) for an election at which three members will be elected to three-year terms on the KIUC board of directors. Ballots must be
Ballots were mailed out last week to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members of record (those named on accounts) for an election at which three members will be elected to three-year terms on the KIUC board of directors.
Ballots must be received by KIUC officials by Saturday, Sept. 27, at 4 p.m., shortly after which election results will be released at the first annual KIUC anniversary and general membership meeting, at Kukui Grove park and pavilion.
Election Systems & Software, Inc. will once again be conducting the election. Omaha-based ES&S is the world’s largest election-management company, and has held the contract for all statewide governmental elections in Hawai‘i since 1998.
In addition, ES&S has counted approximately 60 percent of the U.S. national vote for the past four presidential elections.
There are eight candidates for the three available seats on the KIUC board. Some completed ballots have already been received by KIUC officials, said Anne Barnes, KIUC director of communications.
In addition to the list of candidates for board positions, the ballot contains several proposed bylaw changes. The first section contains “housekeeping” changes grouped together for one “yes” or “no” vote per member, with provisions for deleting items no longer applicable, clarifying the member database, i.e. “inactive” versus “active” members, and creating workable election timelines, among other matters.
A second section deals with more substantive changes, and are broken out for individual votes. Members are urged to vote on both the front and back of ballots.
All ballots must be received by 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. They may be mailed in via pre-addressed envelopes, dropped off at KIUC’s offices in Kukui Grove Village West, or brought to the annual meeting, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes live entertainment, refreshments, keiki activities, and much more.
Electric cooperatives have a strong history of sharing information with their members through an annual meeting, Barnes said.
That’s part of the purpose of the annual meeting. Entertainment includes Andy Bumatai, Aloha Breeze, Larry Rivera & Friends, Russell Wellington and Jason Suzawa.
There will also be fun activities for the keiki, including bouncers, waterslides and an interactive bungee run.
Donated prizes to be awarded to those in attendance include a Las Vegas trip for two from Mokihana Travel, refurbished computers, a TV, rice cookers, DVD players, logo items, and more.
Any questions about the election or the celebration should be directed to Barnes, 246-4383.
For those members whose ballots were received wet, and both envelopes sealed shut as a result, replacement ballots are available. Members may also tape shut their soggy ballots, Barnes said.
As was done earlier this year for the first KIUC board election, The Garden Island will profile all eight candidates for the three available directors’ positions.
