Three candidates are vying for a three-year term on the Kennewick Irrigation District board of directors in a Dec. 13 election.

David McKenzie, current board president, has two challengers for the Position 3 seat. The Finley farmer was elected to the board in 2008, defeating incumbent William Kinsel.

Jim Wade, who is retired and also ran in 2008, often attends KID meetings as an observer and critic. This is his fourth attempt to get on the five-member KID board.

Kirk Dean Higginson is making a first run for the public office. He has lived in Kennewick for 20 years and was in management at Hanford until losing his job during recent layoffs at the site.

The board decided Tuesdaythat the election will have one polling place, at KID offices, 12 W. Kennewick Ave., from 1 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13.

Only property owners in the district are eligible to vote, and voting will be based on the amount of land each voter owns in the 55,000-acre district.

Voting by absentee ballot is permitted for people who expect they will not be able to come to the polling place on election day. Absentee ballot applications are available at the KID website, www.KID.org, or by inquiring at the KID office.

Also Tuesday, the KID board decided to go ahead with an $18,000 revamping of the water agency's website. The State Department of Information Services will work with KID staff over the next four months to complete the makeover, which Colleen Storms, finance manager, said should make it easier to use and more informative for the public.

The board also met in a closed-door session to review the performance of a public employee, and to consult with its attorney about issues with the city of West Richland and pending litigation with Jose Chavallo. No action was taken following the session.