Residential Services | Gas | Water | Home | Contact Us |
 |
 |
|
5.08.02 Two seats for M.U.D. contested in primary Three seats on the Metropolitan Utilities District board are up for election in November, with two of them being contested in the primary next Tuesday. The two contested seats are the districtwide positions held by John S. McCollister and Tim Cavanaugh. Both men have filed for office, and they face opposition from Sally D. Kammerer, Carolyn T. Green and Brett Curtis. Four of the five will advance to the November ballot. (Voters will be able to cast ballots for two candidates Tuesday.) Cavanaugh, 46, is the lieutenant in charge of internal affairs for the Omaha Police Department. He joined the M.U.D. board 2 1/2 years ago to fill out the term of his father, Bill, who died. Curtis, 46, works in sales and marketing at CBS Home Real Estate and focuses primarily on residential sales. Green, 55, handles the day-to-day operation of Girls Inc. of Omaha as its associate executive director. Kammerer, 58, owns Midwest Business Equipment, which sells office supplies such as printers, copiers and fax machines. McCollister, 55, is president of McCollister & Co., a lubricants manufacturing company. He has served on the M.U.D. board since 1979. Cavanaugh said a life of public service and a belief that M.U.D. matters in daily life are what draw him to the board. He said experience in law enforcement gives him real-life understanding of the security issues the utility faces post-September 11. At his suggestion, the board formalized a committee on security. Key issues, Cavanaugh said, will be water supply and its security, as well as balancing customer service and long-range planning with low rates. Curtis said it is time for a fresh perspective on the M.U.D. board. That, he said, is not meant to indict the current board, but to say that organizations can benefit from change. The management of water and natural gas supplies remains a key issue, and Curtis said he would like M.U.D. to be more proactive. And while sewers don't fall into M.U.D.'s specific mission, he said, educating people so that they don't throw pollutants in the sewer is an important water-quality issue. Green, too, said the M.U.D. board needs a fresh perspective, given the number of years some of its members have served. She said her seven years at Girls Inc. and nearly 13 years at Omaha Housing Authority have given her managerial experience that she can bring to the board. M.U.D. already has a proven record for low rates, so Green said one thing she would concentrate on is finding a way to help the elderly with their heating bills. Kammerer said she is ready to step onto the board because she has followed the issues facing M.U.D. for most of her life. Her husband, Karl, worked for M.U.D. for 23 years as a service technician and dispatcher. She said her 20 years running a business have given her expertise that will help her as a board member. Kammerer cites the security of the water and gas systems, fiscal prudence, growth and employee relations as key issues. McCollister said his 23 years on the board are an asset because they provide a wealth of experience and understanding of the issues. The utility's record for low rates, he said, is a reflection of the board's stewardship. His long history of service and solid business background serve him well on the board, he said. He has been president of his family-owned business for 15 of the 30 years he has worked there. Water supply and quality are going to be key issues the board faces over the next several years, McCollister said. Board members are elected to six-year terms and are paid $9,600 a year. The chairman is paid an additional $1,200. The M.U.D. board has seven directors. Incumbent Thomas Dowd faces no opposition in his bid to be re-elected to the M.U.D. position that represents those outside of Omaha. |
|
