[Editor’s note from 5/24. This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: The original version stated that one of the approved changes to HEA’s Bylaws ended in-person voting for board elections at its Annual Meeting. In fact the bylaw change gives the HEA board the discretion to decide whether or not to allow in-person voting at the Annual Meeting.]

The results of the 2023 Homer Electric Association (HEA) Board election were announced on May 4 at the cooperative’s Annual Meeting. HEA members elected Jim Duffield (District 1), Dan Green (District 2), and Jim Levine (District 3) to three-year terms on the HEA Board. Members also approved three sets of changes to HEA’s Bylaws. Overall turnout was 15.47 percent, about the same as in 2022.

A total of 3931 valid ballots were received. Of these, 2035 (51.8%) were submitted by mail, 1856 (47.2%) were cast electronically, and 39 (1%) were cast in person at the HEA Annual Meeting. This is the first year that HEA members had the option to vote on-line.

In District 1, incumbent Director Jim Duffield won with 616 votes (60.2%) over challenger Robert Ernst, who received 393 votes (38.4%). There were also 14 write-in ballots. Duffield, an accountant, will be serving his second term on the HEA Board.

In District 2, challenger Dan Green received 783 votes (64.8%) to defeat incumbent C. O. Rudstrom, who received 417 votes (34.5%). There were also 8 write-in votes. Green is President of G & S Construction and previously served as a member of the Soldotna City Council.

Dan Green from his HEA candidate profile

In District 3, incumbent Director Eugene “Jim” Levine received 968 votes (58.3%) while challenger Michael L. Jones received 683 (41.2%). There were also 9 write-in votes. Levine is a project manager for Jay-Brant General Contractors. Levine, who also served on the HEA Board from 2009-2014, will be serving his third consecutive term representing District 3.

Jim Levine from his HEA candidate profile

HEA members also approved three sets of changes to the cooperative’s Bylaws. The first set of changes, which updated and simplified language in several places, passed with 88.1 percent approval of those voting on the question.

The second set of changes, which concerned board elections and member meetings, received the approval of 86.7 percent of members voting on the question. One significant change is that the Board now has the option of eliminating in-person voting at the HEA Annual Meeting. Only about 1 percent of ballots were cast in this manner in recent years (22 last year, 39 this year). Eliminating in-person voting would allow for the certification of election results before the Annual Meeting, making it possible for new board members to be sworn-in during the event. The Board still has the option to continue in-person voting at the Annual Meeting, so long as it is specified in the annual ballot instructions. The changes also extended the period during which HEA’s Annual Meeting can be held, from a single week in May to the entire second quarter (April-June). Members attending meetings on-line can now also be counted toward forming a quorum.

The third set of bylaw changes, concerning the qualifications for serving as director and the process for removing a director from office, passed with 85.2 percent of ballots cast. One change will allow members who participate in HEA’s net-metering program (which lets members with home renewable power generation systems, like solar panels, sell excess power back to HEA) to run for the Board. Other changes clarified the board’s authority to decide if certain acts constitute grounds for removing a director from office. A final change requires that 180 days pass between efforts by members to remove a director via the petition process.

Members will elect one director from each of HEA’s three districts in 2024.

HEA 2023 Election Results

CEA 2023 Election Results

MEA 2023 Election Results