Chugach Electric 2022 Election Results

Chugach Electric Association (CEA) announced the results of its 2022 election at its Annual Meeting on May 20. Current Board member Rachel Morse and former CEA Board member Sisi Cooper were elected to four-year terms ending in 2026. Members also approved a change to CEA’s Bylaws that moved back the deadline for receiving mail-in ballots. 10,677 members cast ballots in the election, representing 11.8 percent of CEA member-owners. 10,383 members voted electronically, 195 submitted mail-in ballots, and 99 voted at the Annual Meeting.

Rachel Morse, from her CEA Board profile

Morse, who just finished a stint as Board President, led all candidates with 5800 votes. She currently works as Senior Vice President of the United Way of Anchorage. Morse was first appointed to the CEA Board in 2018. Cooper, the process safety group manager at aeSolutions, received 4392 votes. Cooper had previously served on the CEA Board from 2012-2018. Other candidates were Leslie “Fritz” Krusen III, who received 3453 votes, Harry T. Crawford Jr., who received 3194 votes, and Burnell “Bernie” Smith, who received 2457 votes. Outgoing Director James Henderson, a Board member since 2011, did not run for re-election.

Sisi Cooper, from her CEA Board Profile

CEA voters also approved a revision to the cooperative’s Bylaws. The deadline for receiving mail-in ballots in elections was moved from three days to one day before CEA’s Annual Meeting. The Bylaws Committee recommended the change to make it easier for members to vote. They argued that, since relatively few members still used mail-in ballots, the deadline could be closer to the annual meeting. Less than two percent of ballots in 2022 were cast by mail, continuing a trend of the last several years (members wishing to vote by mail must request paper ballots). 7816 members voted in favor of the change (74.2 percent), while 2713 voted against it (25.8 percent). CEA members will elect two Board members in 2023.

CEA 2022 election results