The Washington Public Utility Districts Association (WPUDA) announced the election of its new officers for 2026-2027. Commissioners from five public utility districts will assume top leadership positions within the statewide organization including Mason County PUD No. 3 Commissioner Juli Tuson who will serve as Secretary.
Tuson was elected to the Mason County PUD No. 3 Board of Commissioners in 2022 and it will be her first year serving as a WPUDA officer. “It’s an honor to be elected to the Washington PUD Association Executive Committee, as it allows me to help advance the same mission that drives Mason PUD 3—providing safe, reliable, economical, and sustainable services to the community we serve,” said Tuson. “WPUDA’s strong commitment to statewide advocacy, ongoing education, and collaborative leadership strengthens public power across Washington.”
Jefferson County PUD Commissioner Dan Toepper was elected President of WPUDA. Commissioner for Cowlitz County PUD, Bruce Pollock, will serve as Vice President. Commissioner Dave McKenzie of Skamania County PUD will begin the second year of his two-year term as Treasurer. Debra Lester, Kitsap County PUD Commissioner, will move into the position of Past President having completed her term as President.
The officers serve on the Association’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, providing oversight and recommendations in support of WPUDA’s mission. The Washington PUD Association represents 27 not-for-profit, community-owned public utility districts and one-joint operating agency, Energy Northwest. WPUDA member PUDs provide energy, water, wastewater, and telecommunications services to communities across Washington. The new officers assume an important leadership role in achieving the Association’s mission to “support, protect and enhance members’ ability to conserve power and water resources of the state and to provide not-for-profit, locally controlled utility services.”