Cast your vote for at-large members of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee (ExCom) of the Washington State Chapter meets monthly and is responsible for financial oversight, fundraising, strategic planning, oversight of committees, staff management and other functions necessary to ensure smooth operations of the chapter. The ExCom is composed of Sierra Club member/volunteers, with one representative from each of the nine groups in Washington State and nine elected at-large members, making a total of 18 committee members. At-large members serve two-year terms. This year, five at-large committee positions must be filled.
Voting: All Washington State Sierra Club members can cast a vote. Joint membership households have two votes. The candidates and their statements are presented below and your mail-in ballot is on the back of the fall edition of The Crest. If you do not receive the Crest you may download, print and mail the BALLOT. Please check to make sure your name and membership number are correctly printed on the ballot mailing label.
Your ballot must be received at the chapter office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, and must include your membership number or other identifying number of voting member(s).
Washington State Chapter Executive Candidates
Bonnie J. Gail has been a grassroots organizer since 2007, using her skills to train women to run for office on a variety of platforms. In 2011 she became a fellow of the New Leaders Council - Montana Chapter, a national progressive organization which prepares young leaders to engage across a variety of public policy issues. In 2015, she was elected to the Sierra Club Washington Chapter-Seattle Group Executive Committee. As of January 1, 2017, Bonnie was appointed to serve as the Washington State Chapter Political Chair. In her free time Bonnie enjoys hiking and running Washington’s trails.
Lehman Holder: I live in Vancouver, WA and have served on Chapter ExCom since January 2016. I’m also active with Loo Wit Group and am past chair. At the Chapter level, I’ve worked on the political committee, assisting with the endorsement process. Outings leadership has been my primary contribution to Sierra Club, connecting members and non-members to the outdoors. Since 2013, I’ve also been involved in opposing the proposed Tesoro-Savage oil terminal at the Port of Vancouver and have testified numerous times before both EFSEC and Port of Vancouver commissioners. I would appreciate your vote.
Diane Shisk: I became active in the Beyond Coal Committee 4 years ago, then joined the Environmental Justice (EJ) Committee when it formed. I became the EJ Chair in January. I believe that the work on diversity, equity, and inclusion is necessary for the Sierra Club to continue to play the vital role it has long played in addressing environmental degradation. In the EJ Committee we are working to bring tools to address racism and build diverse alliances to local chapters and groups. I have been involved in anti-racism work for many years through my paid work and by co-facilitating the Frontline Allies workgroup of 350 Seattle.
Connie Sullivan: I have always loved the environment and I use my science background to focus on water quality issues. While working on my M.S. from The College of William and Mary, my Masters in Marine Affairs from the University of Washington, and my SeaGrant fellowship, I realized my passion for communicating and translating science to communities, and I began my current role at Puget Soundkeeper. I help make science a usable tool in regulations and policy. Sierra Club has long been active in local communities, and I wish to assist in translating science so we can strengthen our laws and preserve our ecosystems.
Marc Sullivan is a Seattle native and fourth generation Washingtonian. He presently lives in Dungeness, on the Olympic Peninsula and serves on the Executive Committee of the club’s North Olympic Group. For most of the 1980s Marc was Executive Director of the NW Energy Coalition, a region-wide alliance of which the Club was a founding member. He then worked for the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory as a Senior Project Manager. Next up was five years as director of Seattle City Light’s award-winning energy conservation division, followed by 2 1/2 years as the utility’s director of strategic planning.