Flint wins re-election on PUD, Conley voted out

EPHRATA — Voters gave Incumbent President Tom Flint a second term on the Grant County Public Utility District Commission, and the commission will also see a change in new member Greg Hansen.

Flint beat out challenger Larry Williamson with 52.01 percent of the vote to Williamson's 47.99 percent. Flint had a total preliminary vote count of 10,356 votes to 9,556 votes for Williamson in the race for the PUD commissions District A at-large seat. The at-large seat carries a four-year term.

Flint said after the election that he felt good about the outcome, saying that he was confident going into the election that he had the support he needed.

Flint said he wants to continue on with the priorities he has for the PUD commission; including relicensing, protecting the economic viability of Grant County and continuing with the county's fiber optic program.

Williamson said Wednesday morning that his campaign had accomplished what it wanted with the election of Hansen to the commission, and he thanked each of the voters who supported him in the election.

Williamson said he felt good about Hansen's election to the commission, saying that Hansen is very concerned about the power system at the Grant County PUD. Williamson also said that Hansen's election has brought a

change in the 3-2 split of the commission to the other side of the commission.

Hansen said that he is looking forward to joining the commission. He said he has been campaigning for six months and everything is now falling into place.

Hansen defeated longtime PUD Commissioner Mike Conley in the race for District 2. Conley received 9,379 votes with 46.96 percent of the vote to Hansen's 10,594 votes and 52.01 percent. Hansen's election to District 2 denied Conley a third six-year term on the commission.

Hansen said also that he has some changes he wants to make to the PUD when he takes office.

"One of the big issues is fiber," Hansen said, "We want to get to where it's not draining the resources of PUD but can still have a fiber program that's going to be useful."

Hansen also said that he would work on making the PUD and staff more accountable. He added that relicensing is of the utmost importance for the commission, and said he will probably make it his number one focus.

Conley was not available for comment following Tuesday's election.