Several thousand ballots were mailed out this week to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members, so that they may vote for three directors of the coop. The ballot packet includes a ballot, secret ballot envelope, postage-paid return envelope, and a voter-information
Several thousand ballots were mailed out this week to Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative members, so that they may vote for three directors of the coop.
The ballot packet includes a ballot, secret ballot envelope, postage-paid return envelope, and a voter-information guide that includes information on the candidates, proposed bylaw changes, and a copy of the current and proposed amended by-laws, were mailed out to non-duplicate members of record.
There are four candidates for three available seats, all for three-year terms. Of the four candidates, three were nominated by a citizens’ nominating committee, and one was nominated by member petition (gaining enough signatures of members on a petition to ensure candidacy).
Of the four candidates, only one, Saburo “Sab” Yoshioka, is an incumbent seeking reelection to the board. His term is currently set to expire after the election. A second director whose term expires after the election, Walt Barnes, has decided not to run for reelection.
Carry-over board members include Gregg Gardiner, chair, whose term expires in March 2006; Ron Kouchi, vice chair, whose term expires in March 2006; Ray Paler, secretary, whose term expires March 2007; member Susan Stayton, whose term expires in March 2006; and members Dee Crowell and Jim Mayfield, whose terms expire in March 2007.
Board members voted not to fill the seat vacated by Dennis Esaki, who resigned last year to devote more time to family and business interests. There are eight current board members. After the election, there will be nine.
Completed ballots must be returned to KIUC by Saturday, March 19. Election results should be available that weekend.
Following is information on the candidates provided by the candidates:
Thomas A. Noyes was nominated by members of the nominating committee, and said “advocacy is a core value. Working for Ameritech Cellular, I promoted the world’s lowest cellular airtime rates. I currently operate Thomas Noyes Project Management.”
He is general coordinator of the —Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park, and a member of the Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance and Coastal Heritage Pathways. “Serving your interests will be an honor,” he said.
Teofilo “Phil” Tacbian was nominated by member petition. Since 1971, he has served as a consultant to members of county councils, boards and commissions in Hawai‘i, providing training in their roles as members and proper use of parliamentary procedure.
He served as the Kaua‘i liaison for U.S. Rep. Daniel K. Akaka, now a U.S. senator. Tacbian has also served as a member of the state Land Use Commission, state Contractors Licensing Board, county Board of Water Supply, and as the Kaua‘i liaison for U.S. Rep. Daniel K. Akaka, now a U.S. senator, and on the board of the Princeville Water & Sewer Company.
Saburo “Sab” Yoshioka was nominated by the nominating committee. “It has been an educational and business experience serving as one of your directors for two years,” he said.
“Our coop is doing well. However, there is much more to be accomplished, and I am thus seeking a second term to utilize my considerable coop experience for our Kaua‘i,” Yoshioka said.
Peter Yukimura, nominated by the nominating committee, is president of Koa Trading Company, one of the largest users of electricity on Kaua‘i. “I know how important it is to keep the cost of electricity as low as possible,” he said.
“I will advocate alternative-energy research as a means to accomplish this. I am a Vietnam veteran, and have been a life-long resident of Kaua‘i,” Yukimura said.
To vote, members need to fully blacken in the ovals next to the names of their three favored candidates, and do the same to the yes-or-no questions involving proposed by-law amendments.
Once members have finished voting, they should put the completed ballot and nothing else into the secret ballot envelope, then put the secret ballot envelope into the postage-paid envelope addressed to KIUC. Ballots may also be hand-de-livered to the KIUC offices on Pahe‘e Street in Kukui Grove Village West, during normal weekday business hours (except holidays).
For more information, please call Shelley Paik, 246-4378.
