EPHRATA - Grant County PUD Commission President Tom Flint is running for his fourth term as the A-at-large commissioner.

As of Friday, no opponents had announced their candidacy against Flint, 62.

He is the most tenured commissioner and a fifth-generation farmer from Ephrata.

"I do have a passion for our utility and the dams," Flint told the Columbia Basin Herald. "There's a lot of unfinished business I would like to see done."

He wants to see the "fish-friendly" turbines done at Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams and the completion of the fiber to the home project in Grant County.

Maintaining the district's strong financial rating is another priority for Flint.

His experience is beneficial, as it takes about two terms and plenty of time and energy to understand the issues, he estimates.

"There is a huge learning curve and new stuff that comes along all the time," Flint says.

He was part of the PUD's 2008 relicensing effort of the Priest Rapids Project, which provides affordable hydropower to Grant County residents and other power purchasers.

The federal license means the district can continue to own and operate its Columbia River dams.

The relicensing involved a challenge for the license from PacifiCorp and the Yakama Indian Nation.

He said he helped simplify the electric rate structure and assisted in removing a complex seasonal minimum charge for irrigators.

Ongoing issues include efforts to have hydropower recognized by Washington state as a eligible renewable resource and working through the Crescent Bar Island lease end and other recreational challenges.

Flint is a past president of the Washington Public Utility District Association, which represents 27 PUDs in the state.

He is the founder of the Save Our Dams organization and involved with the Blacksands Irrigation District, Columbia Basin Development League and AgFarmation, a nonprofit agriculture education group.

He is an Air Force veteran and holds a bachelor's of science degree in electrical and electronic industrial technology from Central Washington University.

He and wife Cathy have nine children.

"It has been a privilege and honor to represent all of the customer-owners of Grant County," he stated.

His A-at-large position covers the north, west central and southern portions of Grant County.

Filing week for commission positions is May 14-18, according to the Grant County Elections Department.

The primary election is Aug. 7 and general election is Nov. 6.