MEA 2022 Election Results

Matanuska Electric Association’s Board of Directors confirmed the results of their recent election at a May 9 meeting. Incumbent Mark Hamm retained his seat in the Eagle River District, while Arthur Keyes won the At-Large seat. MEA members also voted to approve a restatement of their Bylaws. A total of 6141 ballots were received. Turnout was 11 percent of eligible voters, about the same as the past four MEA elections. 51 percent of ballots were submitted electronically, 48 percent by mail, and less than one percent of votes were cast in person at the MEA Annual Meeting.

Arthur Keyes, from his MEA Board profile

In the race for the At-Large seat, Arthur Keyes received 3435 votes (56 percent), putting him ahead of Christian Hartley, who received 2647 votes (44 percent). Keyes is the founder of Glacier Valley Farms in Palmer and a former State Director of Agriculture. He replaces Catherine “Kit” Jones, who did not run for re-election.

Mark Hamm, from his MEA Board profile

In the Eagle River District, incumbent Mark Hamm received 733 votes (53 percent). Hamm, the CFO of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, had been elected to a one-year term in 2021. Three competitors split the remaining votes: Robert “Bob” Seitz received 322 votes (23 percent), Paul Park received 247 votes (18 percent), and Lee Cruise received 87 votes (6 percent).

Members also approved a restatement of MEA’s Bylaws by a large margin, with 5465 voting in favor (90 percent) and 586 against (10 percent). The restatement simplified and clarified the language used in the Bylaws, as well as making number of changes to their content. MEA voters approved a recommendation to draft restated Bylaws in 2020.

MEA voters will elect two At-Large Board members in 2023.