Restaurant owner running for PUD commission

Isherwood hopes to guide district into future

Citing his experience as a payer in all the Grant County PUD's rate classes, Scott Isherwood declared his intention to seek a seat on the public utility's commission.

"I am very interested in the economic future of Grant County, and I feel the PUD plays a critical role in that future," he said.

Isherwood is challenging Mike Conley for his position two seat on the board, which covers Moses Lake and Royal City and covers the southern part of the county. Retired realtor Greg Hansen is also running for that seat.

Isherwood, who owns Davinci's Restaurant in Moses Lake, worked as general manager of Anderson Hay in Ellensburg for 15 years and worked 10 years for Eka Chemicals, two as plant manager.

He said these experiences in the agricultural, business and residential classes has shown him the way the PUD works from the point of view of its customers.

The biggest issue facing the district is "a clear vision and plan for the future, Isherwood said.

"The PUD is so drug down in controversy and problems of today that there seems to be lacking a plan for the future role of the PUD related to economic growth," he said.

Isherwood served on the steering committee that helped develop the PUD's Zipp fiber network, and he said he questioned how it would pencil out then in 2000.

"We can't abandon our fiber system, yet we need to develop a strategy that will make the fiber system as economically viable as possible without burdening the electrical consumer," he said.

He expressed a similar concern about the PUD's attempt to secure a federal loan for $60 million for rural broadband technology.

"We're going after money without having a really clear marketing plan with what to do with that money," he said.

Isherwood has lived in Moses Lake for 18 years, and this is his first run at a public office. He has served on the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, the Grant County Economic Development Council, the Moses Lake Tourism Commission, as a Cub master for the town of Thorp and a youth sports coach.

He graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, and he graduated from Chief Sealth High School in Seattle.

Isherwood said he questions whether the PUD commission understands what the big issues it faces are, which is part of the reason why he's running.

"I'm not trying to be scathing, and it's no vendetta, but I see a definite need for clear direction," he said.