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 6 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, Mar. 29. LPEA's offices are located at 45 Stewart St., Durango (Bodo Industrial Park) and 603 S. 8th St., Pagosa Springs.
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 members in good standing and permanent residents of the district they seek to represent, and cannot work for a competing enterprise or supplier of the cooperative, plus not be employed or have a spouse or child employed by the cooperative in any position. A complete list of director qualifications can be reviewed in LPEA's bylaws www.lpea.coop/pdf/policies/LPEA_Bylaws.pdf.
Submitted election petitions must contain at least 15 signatures from co-op members in a candidate's district. A map of LPEA's voting districts is available on the cooperative's website www.lpea.coop/company_info/board/district_map.html.
Directors are elected for three-year terms. Incumbent directors up for re-election are Bob Lynch (District 1 - Archuleta County), Davin Montoya (District 2 - south and west La Plata County), Jeff Berman (District 3 - City of Durango), and Joe Wheeling (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, 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 are scheduled to be mailed to the membership in April, and all those returned are tallied by an independent third party. Results will be announced at LPEA's annual meeting set for Saturday, May 13 at Sky Ute Casino Resort in Ignacio.
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 at 382-3505 or jbennett@lpea.coop.
LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its more than 30,000 members, with in excess of 42,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible.