Chris Pettit is running for the Thurston County Public Utility District Board of Commissioners in District 3, a nonpartisan seat on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Pettit, who is certified for the ballot according to BallotReady, faces Jeff Curry in the race. On his campaign website, Pettit said he brings "decades of experience in water policy, environmental stewardship, and public service" and that "his legal, fiscal, and governance experience positions him to be an effective leader in ensuring the provision of safe and reliable drinking water to all PUD customers."
Candidate information
Party: Nonpartisan
Education: Bachelor's degree in political history, economics and social theory, New College of Florida (2001); juris doctor, University of Florida (2004); master's degree in international and environmental law, University of Cape Town (2005); doctorate in international law and legal studies, University of London (2008)
Endorsements (as listed on campaign website): Chris Stearns, Thurston PUD District 3; Jim Campbell, Thurston PUD District 1; Russ Olsen, Thurston PUD District 2; Carolina Mejia, Tye Menser, Wayne Fournier and Emily Clouse, Thurston County Board of Commissioners; Jon Tunheim, Thurston County prosecuting attorney; Derek Sanders, Thurston County sheriff; Beth Doglio and Lisa Parshley, Washington State House of Representatives (22nd Legislative District); Andy Ryder, City of Lacey; Sierra Club (South Sound); Thurston County Democrats; Thurston County Democratic Women; 22nd Legislative District Democrats; Moms Demand Gun Sense
Experience and public service
Pettit worked as policy and legislation manager at the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department from 2013 to 2019, according to his BallotReady profile. He then served as director of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from 2019 to 2022. He has owned Sand to Sound Consulting, LLC since 2022 and has worked as a program manager for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund at the Washington State Department of Health since 2023, also according to his BallotReady profile.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Pettit's campaign priorities page and his BallotReady questionnaire responses.
Transparency and public participation: Pettit said the PUD needs to expand public access to information about rates, operations and governance. He said he would enhance the Utility Rate Advisory Committee's activities, expand education and outreach, and establish new water and environmental advisory groups. He said he would work with staff to ensure rate documents and planning materials are accessible and understandable.
Government accountability: Pettit said the PUD should respond to shifts brought by federal infrastructure funding, tariffs, new state and federal administrations, and climate change. He said the district owes it to ratepayers and county residents "to listen to emerging ideas and concerns, to collect the data necessary to examine shifts in utility operations, and to adapt those operational and governance changes necessary to meet the requirements of the citizens of the County in these turbulent times."
Environment: Pettit said the PUD should serve as "an exceptional environmental steward." That means expanding conservation programs, he said. He also called for protecting water sources through watershed management, participating in civic environmental events and adapting to climate change impacts.
Rates and fiscal planning: Pettit said the PUD should adopt long-term system planning, asset management and fiscal planning to keep rates affordable. He said the district should develop a plan to acquire additional systems and divest from systems "that are far afield and increase overall costs."
The Capitol Record candidate questionnaire was sent to Chris Pettit's campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 8, 2026. The policy positions below are drawn from his public campaign website and public records.
