MEA board election set for April

WASILLA — The 2016 Matanuska Electric Association election is set for April, with members voting on a handful of bylaw changes and two board seats in newly formed districts.

The cooperative’s annual meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 26 at Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds.

According to MEA, election packets will be mailed out in early April and will contain the election booklet, ballot, return envelope and voting instruction card. The card also will provide instructions for electronic voting.

With 50,000 members, MEA is Alaska’s oldest and second-largest electric cooperative.

The 2016 MEA board elections are scheduled for the Susitna District, which has been divided into separate “east” and “west” regions. According to an MEA press release, the Susitna West District was formed to represent members living in the area west of Church and Vine roads in Wasilla and the northernmost boundary of MEA’s service area along the Parks Highway.

The remaining portion of the Susitna District became Susitna East. A board seat was not added, but instead, an existing at-large seat was transitioned to serve the new district, according to MEA. The remaining voting districts include Eagle River and Matanuska.

The Susitna East candidate is incumbent Robert Doyle, while Susitna West candidates include Bill Kendig, Anthony Origer and Matt Steele.

According to MEA, members can vote online, by mail or in person at the April 26 meeting. The cooperative also offers an incentive to vote: prizes.

This year, prizes for voting include:

• Online: Two people will win a year’s worth of electricity or 10,000 kilowatt-hours, whichever comes first;

• By mail: One person will win a month of free electricity;

• In person: All registered members in attendance will receive a $10 MEA bill credit. There also will be an assortment of giveaways and door prizes.

For more information visit www.mea.coop/2016election