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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Kaua'i Island Utility Co-op board elected

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Former County Council chairman Ron Kouchi, who was defeated in a bid for the county mayor's seat, led the voting for directors of the county's electric utility, Kaua'i Island Utility Co-op.

Getting the most votes guarantees Kouchi a three-year term.

"I hope we can find a way to lower rates and develop alternate sources besides fossil fuel," he said. Alternative energy sources include continued use of bagasse, garbage-to-energy and wind power, Kouchi said.

The election was held by mail, with ballots sent to each of the utility's ratepayers. The ballots were counted Saturday and overseen by Election Systems and Software, the same firm contracted to handle the state's elections.

The cooperative bought Kaua'i Electric last year for $215 million and has been operating under a self-appointed board. All utility ratepayers are automatically members of the co-op unless they choose not to be.

The utility's nine-member permanent board will ultimately have three members elected each year, but nine were seated in this first election. To get the process started, the top three vote-getters will serve three-year terms, the next three will serve two-year terms and the final three will serve one-year terms.

Along with Kouchi, engineer Dennis Esaki and John Bandmann received three-year terms. Bandmann worked for Kaua'i Electric for 26 years.

Members serving two-year terms are electrical engineer

Susan Stayton, retired businessman Saburo Yoshioka and mechanical engineer Randall Hee. Hee is also plant manager for the utility's largest outside electricity producer, Kaua'i Power Partners.

One-year members are former County Council member Abel Medeiros, electrical engineer Walt Barnes and publisher Gregg Gardiner, who headed the KIUC effort to acquire the electric company.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.