Submitted by OPALCO

There are two open positions in this year’s OPALCO election and only two candidates. Because this is an uncontested election, OPALCO has scaled back the candidate forums; there will only be one forum: Thursday, March 15 at Oddfellows Hall on Orcas Island at 6 p.m. The cost savings are significant.

All members from any island can still participate by:

– Submitting questions for the candidates before March 15 (send to communications@opalco.com)

– Watching the forum on Facebook Live

– Watching the Orcas forum on video (available by March 29 online)

– Watching video statements of each candidate (available by March 29 online)

Richard Christmas and Jeffrey Struthers are running for the two open spots in District 2. District 2 includes Orcas, Armitage, Big Double, Blakely, Fawn, Little Double and Obstruction islands. All members vote in all elections regardless of which district they live in. Voting opens March 29.

Don’t forget to attend the annual meeting on April 21 aboard the interisland ferry.

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative is the member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 95 percent greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937. Follow OPALCO @OrcasPower on Facebook and Twitter.