Supports Yoder

To the editor:

The Matanuska Electric Association Board of Directors election is about to happen. Marvin Yoder is running for one of the positions and has distinguished himself as a thoughtful, concerned and progressive candidate with the members best interests in mind.

As a MEA member for more than 35 years, past board candidate and active participant in a few MEA committees, I’ve seen and been affected by some of the dirty politics in MEA’s past. I’ve also witnessed and participated in some of the positive changes over the past few years. Among others, I’ve served on the (former) Elections Committee and the Bylaws Committee. I’ve also been a campaign treasurer for MEA director Peter Burchell, one of the forces of positive change for our new and progressive direction.

I used to view Marvin Yoder as “one of them” — aligned with the puppet board that supported and enabled the past general manager to ride roughshod over the membership with clearly malicious and self-serving platforms, union-busting and a coal-fired power plant in our front yard among others. I have since come to know and view Marvin in a very different light. He was invited to join the Bylaws Committee in an effort to bring a more diverse view and perspective as we were addressing some of the bylaws problems of the past.

Our work on the Bylaws Committee demonstrated to me that Marvin is not the person I thought he was. His association with the former regime was a collateral, incidental and unintended blemish. Marvin Yoder has my vote.

Daniel Tucker

Wasilla