The deadline to vote in the La Plata Electric Association election is quickly approaching on Tuesday and is worthy of your attention. One seat in each of LPEA’s four districts is up for election each year.
This year, only two of the four district seats are contested: Archuleta County’s District 1, where Dusty Mars is running against incumbent Kirsten Skeehan, and North and East La Plata County’s District 4, where Tim Wheeler, the incumbent currently serving his second term, is running against two-time candidate John Purser.
The Herald’s editorial board always appreciates a spirited contest and the candidates that step up to the plate to win the voters’ approval. Not only the effort involved in campaigning, but serving LPEA members via a three-year term in office. Corresponding with our coverage area, we are weighing in only on the contest in La Plata County between Tim Wheeler and John Purser.
Purser, a 19-year La Plata County resident and IT professional with an economics degree, has run before, and continues to serve as a healthy watchdog, seeking board member and staff transparency and accountability. He was responsible, for example, for pointing out the inconsistency in the bylaws that shortened the time candidates had to collect signatures and resulted in a reschedule of the annual meeting from May to September.
We would like to see him continue in this important role. Though not government, elected officials need watchdogs and LPEA’s Board of Directors oversees an approximately $100 million annual budget, about $70 million of which pays for our power supply, a significant responsibility.
Which brings us to Wheeler, who we’d like to see re-elected for a third term to finish what he started in his first two. Wheeler has a long history in La Plata County as a small business owner and advocate for locally owned independent businesses. He was a founding member of Local First, La Plata County’s independent business alliance. He would like to see more member dollars invested in local power sources, currently limited to 5%, and took steps towards that end and more autonomy when he cast a vote in March 2024 to terminate the contract with Tri-State as of April 1, 2026.
In his six years on the board, Wheeler has served five as Treasurer, served as Board VP, and helped found and chair the Finance and Audit Committee. He helped establish new financial goals and budgeting processes and kept costs affordable. He has long worked for cleaner, cheaper and more local power sources for members.
Electricity is something we take for granted but requires an incredible amount of knowledge and experience to oversee. Wheeler has both and what we need right now to get us through the transition away from Tri-State and finish what the current board started.
To be counted, ballots must be received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17. Ballots list all the drop off locations or members may vote in person at LPEA’s annual meeting on Wednesday, September 18. Members who wish to vote in person must register to do so by 11:30 a.m. The voting will conclude at 12:30 p.m., when the Annual Meeting will begin and election results will be announced. Find more information at lpea.coop/elections.
