Three Chugach Electric Association members are running for two seats on the cooperative’s board of directors in this spring’s election. 

The candidates are Sisi Cooper, Jim Nordlund and Steve Strait.  Cooper is a Project Engineer for Doyon Emerald, LLC. Nordlund is the State Director for USDA Rural Development and an incumbent. Strait is President of Strait Media, LLC.

Chugach will host a “Meet the Candidates” night at 4:00 p.m., Thursday, April 26, at Chugach’s headquarters building. 

There are also four bylaw proposals for members to vote on this year.  One changes the Member Advisory council from a standing committee to an Ad Hoc committee.  The second bylaw proposal would expand joint memberships to two people regardless of their relationship in a single household. The third makes minor housekeeping amendments to remove redundant language, makes it consistent with last year’s changes to electronic voting and correctly describes access to board of directors’ recordings. The fourth proposed bylaw change would permit fees for member committees.

The board set April 5, 2012, as the record date for voting in this year’s election and at the annual meeting.  Mail-voting packets were mailed to the 66,751 Chugach members of record on April 16.  Members have until noon on Monday, May 14 to return mail ballots or until noon on Thursday, May 17 to vote electronically.  Chugach first offered members the opportunity to cast a ballot via the Internet last year. In the cooperative’s 2011 election, 21 percent of the ballots were cast electronically.

In-person voting will be allowed at the cooperative’s annual meeting May 17 at the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center for members who haven’t yet cast a ballot. Registration opens at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.  Results of the election will be announced at the meeting.

Chugach is the largest electric utility in Alaska, providing power for Alaskans throughout the Railbelt through retail, wholesale and economy energy sales.