Vera Beth Claussen

Vera Beth Claussen, retired Grant PUD Commissioner and champion of public power died in a fire at her home in Soap Lake on Monday, Jan. 15. She was 79.

Vera was born in Payette, Idaho in 1929 where she experienced first-hand what it was like to live without electricity during the Depression. Upon graduating from high school she received a four-year academic scholarship to Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore. In 1947 she graduated Magna Cum Laude in history and political science and was the class salutatorian. While in college she served as editor of the newspaper and was second chair violin in the college touring chamber orchestra. In 1951 she married her college sweetheart Ed Edinger. In the late 1950s Vera and Ed along with their two children, Katherine and Edwin moved to Portland, Ore.

In 1959, Vera answered an advertisement for an editor-researcher for the Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) in Vancouver, Wash., where she went to work for well-known public power pioneer, Gus Norwood.

Her husband died suddenly of a heart attack in 1961. In 1962 she moved to Seattle where she took a job with the Washington PUD Association under the tutelage of another who's who in public power, Ken Billington. She was the only woman among hundreds of male employees, commissioners and managers of PUDs across the state. She also became the first woman to enroll in the Graduate Program of Public Administration at the University of Washington.

During her 17 years with the Washington PUD Association Vera was a tireless advocate of public power. She authored numerous articles and pamphlets about the history of public power and public utility districts. She was labeled the grande dame of public power in the northwest in 1995 when she took on government deregulation of private utilities. She became widely recognized by utility industry leaders as a capable policymaker. Public power officials across the region sought her out for her participation and advice. She worked with some of the giants of the U.S. Congress - Sens. Warrren Magnusen and Henry Jackson and Reps. Sid Morrison and Tom Foley. She routinely spoke at congressional hearings, meetings with elected officials and national conferences.

In 1966 when she married Grant PUD Commissioner Al Claussen she moved to Soap Lake and continued commuting to Seattle to work for the Washington PUD Association. In 1979 she retired from the association as the assistant executive director.

In 1982 she became the first woman elected to the Grant County PUD Commission. In 1983 she was elected to the Washington Public Power Supply System's board of directors. In 1990 she was elected to the American Public Power Associations (APPA) board of directors where she served five years on the executive committee. In 1996 she became the first woman in the 56-year history of APPA to hold the office of president. She served four six-year terms as a commissioner for the Grant PUD, retiring in 2006.

Vera Claussen's commitment and dedication to public power and to the people she served led to numerous honors with awards throughout her career. In 1975 she was the first woman to receive the APPA's Kramer-Preston Personal Service Award. In 1987 she received the NWPPA Distinguished Service Award. In 1988 she received the APPA's Spence Vanderlinden Public Official Award recognizing contributions to the nationwide prestige of public power. In 1989 she was recognized with the Columbia Basin Women of Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding professional and civic accomplishments. In 1999 she was honored with the NWPPA John M. George Award given for outstanding public service, APPA's Alex Radin Distinguished Service Award and the Public Power Council's Alan Jones Public Power Person of the Year Award for her contributions to public power.

Described in the media and by peers as relentless and undeniably effective, Vera Claussen, has had a tremendous impact on public power in the Pacific Northwest. Standing a little over 5 feet tall and wearing a scarlet jacket and a string of pearls, she graced the cover of Public Power magazine in July 1996. She was, at that time bestowed the unforgettable title of "our warrior in pearls."

She became a friend and advocate of the Wanapum Indians, helping bridge understanding and increase sensitivity to their culture and traditions. She participated in efforts to secure their rights to fish at traditional places near their home site at Priest Rapids after the state of Washington inadvertently removed legislation giving them these rights.

Gifted, driven, intense, hardworking, selfless and committed, all are terms that have at one time or another been ascribed to Vera. Her diminutive stature defied the breadth and nature of her accomplishments. She was a stalwart crusader for public power, passionately declaring in a 2005 retrospective interview, "I believe in people." Vera leaves a legacy imprinted in memory and stories that will live on in the telling. Above all, she should be remembered for these words, quoted from her most recent interview in October 2006, "I would like to be remembered as a good wife and mother and as someone who cared about people."

Vera Beth Claussen is survived by her husband Al Claussen, her son Edwin Edinger, her daughter Katherine Chapman, grandchildren Kyle and Bethany Chapman and Joshua Edinger.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Bethlehem Chapel (Assembly of God) located at 612 Nat Washington Way, Ephrata.

In lieu of flowers send donations to: Vera Claussen Memorial Scholarship - Columbia Basin Foundation 234 1st Ave. N.W., Suite B, Ephrata, WA 98823.