Results of director elections in all four districts of La Plata Electric Association will be announced at the electric cooperative's annual meeting May 16 at Pagosa Springs High School.
The annual meeting is free and open to all LPEA members. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the business meeting starting at 10:30 a.m. Jerry Sutherlin, LPEA serviceman and lead singer of the country band Midnight Backhand, will entertain during the registration period beginning at 9:30 a.m. A complimentary lunch follows the business meeting.
"During the business meeting we will share important information about your cooperative, as well as report on the company's financial performance over the last year and discuss the challenges we, and the entire industry, are currently facing," said Michael Rendon, president of the LPEA board of directors. Rendon, LPEA Chief Executive Officer Michael Dreyspring and attorney Barry Spear will address the assembly.
Updates from Jeff Berman, LPEA's board delegate to the Colorado Rural Electric Association, Joe Wheeling, LPEA's board delegate to Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Bruce Keuning, past president of the Round Up Foundation Board of Directors, will also be presented. The membership will have an opportunity to query the board on topics of concern during the Q&A period.
LPEA director election ballots were mailed to cooperative members on April 24 and must be returned by 4 p.m. May 15 to the La Plata County Clerk's office in Bodo Park. If not submitting ballots by mail, members can vote at the annual meeting prior to 10:30 a.m.
In accordance with LPEA's bylaws, one seat in each of LPEA's four districts comes up for election annually.
The nearly 8,000 LPEA members in Archuleta County - District 1 - will elect a representative to the board from a field of two: incumbent Bob Formwalt and new candidate Nicholas "Koli" Kazarinoff.
In District 2, which includes approximately 8,300 members in south and west La Plata County, incumbent Jerry McCaw elected to not run for re-election. Two new candidates, Gregg Dubit and Kohler McInnis, are vying for the seat.
In District 3, which is essentially the City of Durango, new candidate Jim Wotkyns is challenging incumbent Britt Bassett. District 3 includes approximately 7,600 eligible voters.
Incumbent Heather Erb is defending her seat against new candidate Karen Barger in District 4. Approximately 7,900 eligible voters are in District 4, which covers north and east La Plata County.
LPEA members who register at the annual meeting will receive a $5 credit on their electric bill plus are eligible for a wide array of door prizes and giveaways. Pagosa Springs High School is located at 800 South Eight St.
For additional information, contact LPEA at 247-5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.
