GVEA 2021 Election Results

In 2021, GVEA voters elected Directors for Districts 4 and 7. Incumbent Gary Newman was reelected in District 4, while District 7 voters elected new Board member Todd Adams.

Gary Newman was elected to a third term representing District 4, which includes downtown Fairbanks and areas north and east of town. Newman, who currently serves as the Board’s Secretary, received 550 votes (58%) to challenger Derek Miller’s 402 votes (42%). Turnout was 15% (957 eligible ballots returned out of a possible total of 6501).

Four candidates ran for the seat in District 7, which covers areas along the Parks Highway between Cantwell and Nenana. In the initial round of voting, Todd Adams received 111 votes (38%), Katherine Hennigan received 79 votes (27%), incumbent Brad Benson received 61 votes (21%), and Julie Morris received 39 votes (14%). Turnout was 25% (290 qualified ballots out of 1141). Since no candidate received at least 40% of the vote, GVEA Bylaws required a run-off election to be held between the two candidates receiving the most votes.

The run-off, between Adams and Hennigan, was held in June and July of 2021. Adams was certified as the winner of the run-off on July 29, 2021, with 183 votes (60.4%). Hennigan received 119 votes (39.4%). Turnout for the run-off was slightly higher than the first round of voting (303 ballots cast out of 1141).

Biographies of Newman and Adams may be found on the GVEA website https://gvea.com/board-of-directors/