MEA board candidates face public

Concerned about recent increases in your electric bill? Wondering what that spiffy new Eklutna Generation Plant means for the future of Matanuska Electric Association?

Well, today you have an opportunity to get your questions answered by those who are competing to serve on the MEA board of directors. All eight candidates vying for the three open board seats will be featured at a lunchtime candidate forum at Evangelo’s Restaurant in Wasilla.

Sponsored by the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman and Mat-Su Business Alliance, the forum will feature a town hall-style format. After brief introductory statements by each candidate, audience members will take over from there, as the floor is opened to questions for the duration of the event.

Cheryl Metiva, from the Frontiersman, and Mike Ford, from Country Legends, will serve as moderators.

It was not too long ago that elections for Matanuska Electric Association’s board of directors were contentious and controversial affairs. That changed when new management took over in 2009.

Since then, operations, including yearly elections, have been relatively drama-free. But that does not change the importance of voting in the upcoming MEA election.

With a new generation plant recently on line and the transition in the works for the member-owned cooperative to move from a power buyer and distributer to a power producer, there is much at stake in the current election. So it behooves MEA members to educate themselves on the issues in order to cast an informed vote.

Voting begins this week. Election packets are in the mail to ratepayers, who can vote by mail, electronically, or in person, at the annual meeting on April 28.

Today’s forum, which runs from noon to 1:15 p.m., will be the only one of its kind. So it’s a great opportunity for voters to get a look at the candidates together, and to address them directly about any concerns.

Space is limited for the forum. Interested people should RSVP either through the Mat-Su Business Alliance website, or by calling MSBA at 373-6622.