letter to the editor, utilities, WOEC

Letter to the Editor: Erika Paleck for WOEC board

The West Oregon Electric Co-op offices in Vernonia. Photo: Chas Hundley

Dear Fellow WOEC Member/Owners, long power outages are dangers to our health, livelihoods and quality of life. Board of Directors’ policy and priorities are crucial aspects of how this is managed.

I am running for the District 5 Board of Directors seat, but all members vote for all directors. My goals and values: continuing the ongoing upgrade of service; my commitment to really hearing all members; fiscal responsibility and accountability; and sustainability of the co-op.

 My promise: to meet members directly at least 3 times a year in different locations in the district (all members welcome), bringing managers along. If we can’t answer your concerns immediately, we’ll take your contact information to get you solid answers.

I won’t promise to magically drop the rates, but I’m open to new cost-effective technologies. Rates are primarily based on indispensable personnel and equipment—both maintenance and replacement. We still pay for recent massive storm/flood damage. FEMA payouts only cover 75%, and only for locations declared Disaster Areas. The only source of income for the co-op is what we members pay.

I’ve been attending board meetings for the past year, as well as learning about America’s electrical grid system, studying our own co-op’s history, and reviewing cooperative law. 

Please review my candidate statement that comes with the ballot mailed July 27th to see how I contribute to my community on an ongoing basis since 2004, and consider voting for me. I’ll hit the ground running, doing my best to help us all thrive.

Thank you for your consideration,

Erika Paleck, Vernonia.

Send a letter to the editor at [email protected] with your name, address, and phone number (will not be published) on issues, news, and items of concern in the community. Please keep it between 100-350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, spelling, and punctuation errors.

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