The La Plata Electric Association’s board of 12 has four of its board seats up for election each year. La Plata County candidates live in specific districts and are voted on by district. Here are The Durango Herald editorial board’s recommendations for the three who come from La Plata County. The fourth seat, from Archuleta County, is held by incumbent Bob Lynch, who is unopposed.
Joe Wheeling has served nine years on the LPEA board. He is the former CEO of Red Roof Hotels and part of the David and Kay James ranching family.
Wheeling is the chairman of FastTrack Communications, the LPEA subsidiary that has brought high-speed internet to Southwest Colorado.
More importantly, he is LPEA’s delegate and vice chairman of the Tri-State board. Tri-State provides the power used by its 44 local cooperatives.
Wheeling is opposed by Guinn Unger, a three-year resident of Durango who had an electrical engineering career in the U.S. Air Force, worked for NASA and has consulted on business operations software.
While Unger has appealing credentials, Wheeling’s background and his current leadership positions make him the logical person to serve again.
Vote for Joe Wheeling.
Davin Montoya, who is part of a longtime family ranching operation west of Durango, has served 27 years on the LPEA board. He has served as president and represented LPEA on the Tri-State board and was personally responsible for putting Fast Track Communications on firm financial footing. Montoya carries a wealth of institutional knowledge about LPEA and Tri-State.
But, more importantly, Montoya has a record of consistently taking a hard look at the economics of proposed changes in providing energy. He has supported renewables, both wind and solar, but only after scrutinizing their financials and projections. He is quick to accurately point out that renewables are often partially underwritten by higher rates on conventional energy sources.
Montoya is challenged by Kim Martin, a Durango School District 9-R board member who has been active in the League of Women Voters and with cultural and educational groups. Martin is candid about her reason for running, saying that in a democracy, voters deserve a choice.
Martin is open to new technology and renewable energy sources and would work to determine what members in her district want.
Because of his experience, and his value on a board with many serving their first terms, Montoya deserves re-election.
Vote for Davin Montoya.
Rachel Landis has been the coordinator of Fort Lewis College’s Environmental Center for five years. She grew up in Illinois and has degrees in biology and in environmental studies, and has extensive experience in environmental organizational leadership, including outdoor guiding.
Landis is eager to apply her skills to board dynamics to reduce what she calls “aged tension.” Her work takes her off campus, and she often hears community calls for more local renewables.
Mike Bell has had a successful career leading a local architectural firm for 35 years, and has been involved in a variety of local boards and organizations. He has diligently attended numerous LPEA board meetings to familiarize himself with the issues. He touts his skills as a mediator and wants to bring balance to the board.
We think Landis can bring fresh perspectives and a more collaborative working style to the board.
Vote for Rachel Landis.
