Election packets for those interested in running for a seat on the La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) board of directors will be available Tuesd at LPEA offices in Durango and Pagosa Springs and online at www.lpea.coop.
To be placed on the ballot, candidates must return completed petitions to either LPEA office by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. 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 cannot work for a competing enterprise or supplier of the cooperative, in addition to other requirements. A complete list of director qualifications can be reviewed in LPEA's bylaws at www.lpea.coop.
Submitted 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. Incumbent directors up for re-election are Bob Formwalt (District 1 - Archuleta County), Jerry McCaw (District 2 - south and west La Plata County), Britt Bassett (District 3 - City of Durango), and Heather Erb (District 4 - north and east La Plata County).
"LPEA is a cooperative, owned by and operated for the benefit of those who use its services," said Mike Dreyspring, the CEO of LPEA. "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 by April 24 and tallied by an independent third party. Results will be announced at LPEA's annual meeting set for Saturday, May 16 at Pagosa Springs High School.
The candidate packets contain additional election information and instructions, including copies of LPEA's bylaws and board policies. Candidates with questions should contact Jeannie Bennett, 382-3505 or jbennett@lpea.coop.
