5 file for 3 MEA seats

PALMER — As of yesterday’s filing deadline for names to go through the nominating committee, three incumbents and two challengers will be on the ballot to serve on the Matanuska Electric Association Board of Directors.

Five candidates are running for three of the board’s seven seats. An April election will determine the three representational seats, one from each of the three regions MEA serves: Wasilla, Palmer and Eagle River.

The seat from Wasilla, now called the Susitna District, represents ratepayers west of Seward Meridian Parkway. Katie Hurley is the incumbent and has filed for re-election. So far, she faces a challenge from Bob Doyle.

Hurley has served on the MEA board for one three-year term. According to her submitted information, she served as chief clerk to the Alaska Constitutional Convention, secretary to the governor and in the state House of Representatives, as well as other elected and appointed posts.

Doyle was chief school administrator for the Mat-Su Borough School District and has been involved with public education around the state for more than 30 years.

The Palmer seat, now known as the Matanuska District, covers ratepayers east of Seward Meridian Parkway. Larry DeVilbiss holds the seat and will be up for re-election against challenger Bill Tull.

DeVilbiss has been on the MEA board for two terms, serving as president in 2002 and 2003. He is a trained translator and long-time farmer, and has also served on both the Mat-Su Borough Assembly and school board.

Tull is a commercial attorney who has worked in Palmer for almost 40 years. He has served on various boards, including the board of equalization, local chambers of commerce, Valley Hospital, Port MacKenzie and others.

The third seat up for election represents the Eagle River area. It is held by David Glines, who is currently unopposed for re-election. Glines retired from the Army and Army National Guard and has served one term on the MEA board.

While the deadline has passed for MEA’s nominating committee, interested candidates can still be included on the ballot by submitting a petition signed by 50 MEA ratepayers. The deadline for petitions is March 8.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.