In the lone race for Lakehaven Utilty District board of commissioners position 2, longtime incumbent Don Miller faces challenger Marie-Anne Harkness.

Lakehaven commissioners set policies for the water district as well as oversee expenditures and a budget of nearly $30 million. Lakehaven provides water and sewer services for nearly all Federal Way residents.

Miller is a retired financial planner for Prudential insurance and a retired National Guardsman. He was first elected to the board in 1983.

Miller said he’s “on top of what we’re doing” when it comes to coordinating water and sewer issues with the city’s downtown development goals. Miller said he attends conferences and keeps up on the latest technology for water districts. He says one strength is that he’s a “finance guy.”

Miller said he wants to stay on the board and finish what he has watched develop, such as a future filtration station on the Green River.

Harkness is a retired teacher-librarian and longtime community volunteer who’s running her first election race.

Harkness became interested in the Lakehaven position based on her efforts to stop a garbage transfer station in the West Hill of Auburn. Through the ordeal, she has learned about the ways of water and how government deals with water. She said her research skills and ability to “look outside the box” will bring a new perspective to the Lakehaven board. She has been attending Lakehaven board meetings and learning all she can about regulatory issues and water treatment.

In the pursuit of fair rates for ratepayers, one problem Harkness said she would address is the extra cost that results from the overlapping infrastructure between King and Pierce counties.

Contact the candidates

• Marie-Anne Harkness: electmaharkness@gmail.com

• Don Miller: pattianddonald@msn.com