Candidate questionnaire: Patrick McGuire, Kennewick Irrigation District

Name: Patrick McGuire

District: Kennewick Irrigation District, Position 2

Why are you running?

I, Patrick McGuire, am running for reelection to represent all of the Kennewick Irrigation District’s customers. I will continue to seek public input and develop policies to match the needs of our customers, and continue to be an advocate for the responsible stewardship of the district.

What is your experience?

The years before I was first elected, I regularly attended KID board meetings. I did this to develop an understanding of the multiple state and federal issues surrounding irrigation water. During the past seven years that I have been a board member, I have been able to foster a credible working relationship with local representatives of the Bureau of Reclamation and Washington State Department of Ecology.

As the chair of KID’s finance committee, I have been at the center of the development of KID’s fiscal policies and zero-based budgeting.

If elected, what changes would you plan to make?

During my next term, I plan to push for changes to the water delivery system at the Chandler Pumping Station, modernizing the pumps to a more efficient design. This modernization will make more water available for Kennewick Irrigation District customers and will leave more water in the Yakima River, between Prosser and Benton City, to aid in the environmental concerns for that reach.

This story was originally published December 5, 2015 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Candidate questionnaire: Patrick McGuire, Kennewick Irrigation District."