By Indiana Reed
Special to The SUN
Election packets for those interested in running for a seat on the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) board of directors will be available Monday, March 4, at the LPEA office in Pagosa Springs and online at www.lpea.coop.
To be placed on the ballot, candidates must return completed petitions to the LPEA office by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27. LPEA’s Pagosa office is located at 603 S. 8th St.
As per LPEA bylaws, one-third of the directors’ seats are up for election annually, one in each of LPEA’s four districts. Candidates are required to be permanent residents of the district they seek to represent, and be members-in-good-standing of the cooperative throughout their term in office.
Completed election petitions must contain 15 or more signatures from co-op members in a candidate’s district. A detailed map of LPEA’s voting districts is available on the cooperative’s web site under “Your Co-op – Districts” and click on the map.
Directors are elected for three-year terms, and are not term-limited. Incumbent directors are Lindon Stewart (District 1-Archuleta County), Tom Compton (District 2-south and west La Plata County), and Herb Brodsky (District 4-north and east La Plata County). Incumbent Director Harry Goff (District 3-City of Durango) has announced that he will not seek re-election.
“LPEA is a cooperative, owned by and operated for the benefit of those who use its services,” said Greg Munro, LPEA CEO. “So, if you purchase your electricity from La Plata Electric, and haven’t opted out of membership, you are entitled to run for a director seat and join the board that determines company policy.”
Ballots will be mailed to the membership on Friday, April 19, with results tallied by an independent third party, announced at LPEA’s annual meeting set for Saturday, May 11, at Sky Ute Resort and Casino, Ignacio.
The candidate packets contain additional election information and instructions, including copies of LPEA’s bylaws and board policies.
Candidates with questions are encouraged to contact Jeannie Bennett, 382-3505 or jbennett@lpea.coop.
