GVEA seats new District 2 director, adopts nine bylaw changes

Philip Wight defeated Margaret Matheson 76% to 24% (680 votes to 212) for a seat on the Golden Valley Electric Association board, while incumbent Dave Messier held District 1 with 77% of the vote (783 votes to 236 for challenger James Strickland). GVEA's Member Advisory Committee certified both results Thursday, June 11. The cooperative serves roughly 36,000 member-owners across Interior Alaska.

All nine proposed amendments to GVEA's bylaws passed, with approval ranging from 85% to 94% on individual items. The source does not detail what each amendment changes. Both the new directors and the bylaw revisions take effect at the June 23 board meeting.

Turnout was low but cleared the cooperative's minimums. District 1 returned 15.4% of ballots, District 2 returned 13.7%, and the membership-wide bylaw vote drew 9.6%, just above the 3% threshold GVEA bylaws require for bylaw changes to be valid. Of 36,458 ballots mailed to all members, 3,498 were returned.

The 2027 election cycle will put the District 4 and District 7 seats on the ballot. Those seats are currently held by Gary Newman and Krista Zappone.