Consider Kit Jones and Lois Lester

To the editor:

Many of you who read this paper live or own property in the MEA service area, an area extending from Eagle River to Glacier View to beyond Trapper Creek. If so and you have electricity, MEA is your electric service provider. With about 35 years in the Valley many of you know I’ve been active in Matanuska Electric Association issues for some time. I ran for the board at one time when the former administration rigged/biased the election pamphlet and ballots and am currently active on the bylaw committee.

The MEA annual election ballots should have arrived in the mail by now.

It has been my pleasure and privilege to know MEA board candidates (and incumbent members) Kit Jones and Lois Lester. I’ve known each of them for a while — Lester for more than 20 years. They, working closely with a couple of the other board members, have been able to make a major turn-around in the way the cooperative works for us. Under the former board and CEO, the employees were not permitted to talk with board members. Lester and Jones got this changed. Under the former administration, the equipment they were forced to use was outdated and dangerous. Lester and Jones have helped to get safe equipment for operations and maintenance. And under the former administration, the union work rules were draconian and atmosphere extremely tense — work actions, arbitration and strikes were common. Lois and Kit have helped change this, too.

I presented an industrial safety class to some of the MEA yard/maintenance/clearing personnel last month. During conversations I had with the employees in the class, the support for the changes that have occurred was unanimous. They concurred that MEA is a safer, better, more friendly and better-managed workplace. They also spoke about some of the economies that have been possible since they can actually speak out and be heard. I also know that the board members seek the employees’ input to improve their knowledge and actions. This equates to lower rates for us. I know that Lester and Jones were members of the board that brought those changes about. And I know they will continue in our best interest. Please consider voting for Kit Jones and Lois Lester when you vote your ballots.

Your vote is important to you, the co-op and our energy future.

Dan Tucker

Wasilla