United Power members have the unique opportunity to have a voice in the future of their electric cooperative. Each year, our members’ votes in the director election determine who will represent them on the co-op’s Board of Directors. As an electric utility, your participation in the annual election is critical to helping the co-op better serve its members.
Every Vote Matters Equally
United Power is a not-for-profit cooperative owned and controlled by the members it serves. When you become a member, you automatically receive the benefits all other members share, including the right to vote for board representation. As a member, your vote is equal to any other member’s vote, regardless of what kind of account they have or how large it is. “One member, one vote” is part of the cooperative principle known as Democratic Member Control. Director candidates must also live within United Power’s service territory, so you know you will be voting for someone who understands your community’s needs. They could even be your friends or neighbors.
Running for a Board Position
The primary difference between an investor-owned utility (IOU) and a cooperative is democratic control. IOUs make decisions to appease stakeholders and shareholders who might not live in the same state, let alone the same community. Any United Power member in good standing is eligible to run for a position on the cooperative’s eleven-member Board of Directors. Directors serve three-year terms in one of four geographical districts. Although directors must live in one of these districts, members vote on an “at-large” basis, explained in more detail next.
Voting in the Election
Balloting opens in March. United Power encourages all members to cast their votes in the election. Members may vote electronically through their online account, or via mail ballots, sent to all members in mid-March. Directors represent all members and are therefore elected on an “at-large” basis. This means members may cast a vote for a director in each district and not just their own. Directors serve in geographic districts to ensure United Power’s board adequately represents members throughout the service territory and provides accessibility to cooperative leadership. Learn more about how to vote your ballot here.
Your vote always matters. To learn more about a director candidate, consider attending one of our Meet the Candidate forums in March or read their candidate statements here.
2023 Director Election
Balloting in the 2023 Director Election opens March 13. Four positions on United Power’s Board are up for election this year – one seat in the Mountain, South, West, and East Districts. The director candidates are Tamra “Tami” Waltemath in the Mountain District; Jamie Klein, Ken Kreutzer, Katherine “Kathy” Mills, and James Vigesaa in the South District; Virginia “Ginny” A. Buczek and Thomas “Tom” Hogan in the West District; and Steven “Steve” Douglas and Robert “Rob” Masden in the East District.
Electronic and mail in ballots must be received by 11:59 a.m. on April 11. Members may also vote in person at the cooperative's Annual Meeting on April 12 at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton. Registration for the meeting opens at 4:30 p.m. and balloting closes at the beginning of the official business meeting at 6:30 p.m.
A livestream of the meeting will be hosted on the cooperative’s website.