May 2, 2011Washington Commissioner election results
Washington State Agriculture Director Dan Newhouse has officially notified three growers of their successful bids to serve on the Washington State Potato Commission. Two returning Commissioners, Nelson Cox, representing growers in the northern Basin, and current Commissioner Jared Balcom, representing growers in Franklin, Yakima and Benton counties were reappointed.
Also, Stacy Kniveton is replacing Commissioner Cully Easterday, who is retiring after 10 years on the Commission. Because all nominees were unopposed, no elections were necessary and names were submitted directly to Director Newhouse for State appointment.
The Potato Commission has nine grower-elected positions and five Commissioner-appointed ones, as well as a representative from the state agriculture department. WSDA conducts elections for open grower seats each spring. Commissioner-appointed positions are filled by potato industry members. All three-year terms start at the beginning of the WSPC year in July.
