CEA 2023 Election Results
By Brian Kassof
Chugach Electric Association (CEA) announced the results of its 2023 board election at the utility’s Annual Meeting on May 19. Susanne Fleek-Green and Jim Nordlund were elected to four-year terms, and Bettina Chastain was reelected to a two-year term. Chugach members also approved a change to the cooperative’s Bylaws that allows for the creation of a bill roundup program. Proceeds from the program will benefit local charities.
The announcement capped an unusually contentious election, which saw controversy over the work of the CEA Nominating Committee, the appearance of two groups of candidates who ran as unofficial slates, and CEA’s withdrawal from the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) over candidate endorsements. The candidate slates were defined by their positions on how quickly CEA should act to integrate more renewable resources into its generation portfolio and reduce its reliance on natural gas. Two of the three directors elected, Fleek-Green and Nordlund, were part of the pro-renewable slate, while the third, Chastain, was a member of the group urging a slower approach to renewable integration.
Interest in the election was reflected by higher voter turnout than in recent years. 14,156 (15.7%) of Chugach members voted in this year’s election: in 2022, 10,677 members (11.8%) voted, while 2021 saw 10,453 voters (11.4%). The overwhelming majority of ballots—13,867—were cast electronically before the Annual meeting, with 267 submitted by mail. An additional 65 members voted at the Annual meeting.
Unusually high interest in the election was obvious in February, when a dozen CEA members applied to run for the three available seats. There was some initial controversy when the Nominating Committee, made up of CEA members appointed by the Board, did not advance three seemingly qualified candidates to the ballot. After some CEA members asked questions about the nominating process, the CEA Board called a special meeting on March 10 to discuss the Nominating Committee’s role and procedures. (More about the meeting can be found here). Two of the three candidates not advanced by the Nominating Committee, Scott von Gemmingen and Harry Crawford, gained a place on the ballot through the petition process (although Crawford withdrew from the election in late March). The third applicant not advanced by the Nominating Committee, Antony Scott, did not attempt to take the petition route.
After Crawford’s withdrawal there were nine remaining candidates in the election. Six of these candidates aligned themselves in two slates. The first consisted of three candidates--Fleek-Green, Shaina Kilcoyne, and Nordlund--who ran as pro-renewable energy candidates. This group received endorsements from the Alaska Center, the Chugach Reliability Group, and the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP). The second group, which included incumbent board members Chastain and Harold Hollis, together with Jim Authier, ran as the Chugach Stability slate, which called for a much slower integration of renewable sources of power generation and a continued reliance on natural gas. This group did not advertise any formal endorsements, although they did receive support from multiple conservative media outlets such as talk radio host Mike Poccaro and the Must Read Alaska blog.
REAP’s decision to endorse candidates in the board election, something it had not done previously, led to additional controversy, since CEA was an institutional member of REAP. (REAP also endorsed candidates in the Homer Electric Association (HEA) board election this spring, but HEA ended its REAP membership in late 2022). REAP issued its endorsement of the pro-renewable slate on April 24. On May 11 the Chugach Board held a special meeting whose agenda included a discussion of whether REAP’s decision to make an endorsement in the election placed CEA in violation of state statute. CEA attorney James Torgerson explained to the Board that state statute (AS 10.25.010) forbids any cooperative funds from being used to oppose or support board candidates. As an institutional member of REAP, CEA paid $5,000 in annual dues this year. In Torgerson’s opinion, this meant that CEA funds were effectively being used to support the candidates endorsed by REAP, placing CEA in violation of the statute. When asked by a board member if this interpretation of the statute had any legal precedent, Torgerson said he was unaware of any.
Torgerson’s recommended remedy was that CEA withdraw its membership from REAP. Although several directors, including Mark Wiggin, voiced strong support for REAP’s mission, most members of the Board accepted Torgerson’s argument that they were legally compelled to withdraw their membership—the final vote was 6 to 1 in favor of withdrawal (with Director Sam Cason dissenting). Several directors, including Wiggin and Rachel Morse, stated that they hoped in the future CEA could come to an understanding with REAP about candidate endorsements that would allow the utility to rejoin it.
Susanne Fleek-Green was the top vote-getter, with 6725 votes (47.5%). Fleek-Green works for the US National Park Service as the Superintendent of the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. She has also served on the Board of Trustees at the Anchorage Library Foundation.
Susanne Fleek-Green from her CEA candidate profile
Jim Nordlund received 6417 votes (45.3%). Now retired, Nordlund has held a number of positions, including serving as Executive Director of NeighborWorks Alaska and as Alaska state Director for the US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program. He also served in the Alaska Legislature and was a member of the CEA Board from 2006 to 2015.
Jim Nordlund, from his CEA candidate profile
Bettina Chastain was the third-place finisher, with 6258 votes (44.2%). Chastain, who served as CEA Board Chair for the past year, will fill out the remaining two years of Director Erin Whitney’s term. Whitney resigned in January when she took a position with the US Department of Energy—her interim replacement, Bernie Smith, was not a candidate. Chastain works as an executive and engineering consultant and has served on the CEA Board since 2015.
Bettina Chastain, from her CEA candidate profile
The remaining candidates received the following vote totals: Shaina Kilcoyne 6002 votes (42.4%); Harold Hollis 4944 votes (34.9%); Jim Authier 4056 (28.7%); Steve Konkel 2109 (14.9%); Scott von Gemmingen 1871 (13.2%); James Wileman 1341 (9.5%).
In a fairly close vote CEA members also approved a change to the cooperative’s Bylaws that allows for the creation of a voluntary bill roundup program. 7712 members voted in favor of the change (55.4%), while 6202 were opposed (44.6%). Members participating in the program will have their monthly bill rounded up to the nearest whole dollar—the extra payment will go to a foundation that will use the money to support 501(c) charitable organizations within the CEA service area. Other Railbelt cooperatives, such as Golden Valley Electric Association and Matanuska Electric Association, operate similar programs.
CEA members should be aware that they automatically will be enrolled in this program, which will cost the average household about $6 a year—those wishing not to participate will need to opt out by contacting CEA by phone or email when the program is introduced. Details, such as the composition of the foundation that will distribute funds or how it will select recipients, have not yet been finalized.
CEA 2023 Election Results
(This article was updated on July 17 to include.a more complete breakdown of voting methods. The spelling of Antony Scott’s name was also corrected).
