GVEA Election Results; Runoff to Be Held in District 7
On June 6 GVEA announced the results of its 2024 board election. In District 4, incumbent Gary Newman was reelected. In District 7, no candidate reached the required 40 percent threshold to win, meaning that a runoff election will be held between the top two vote-getters, Krista Zappone and incumbent Todd Adams. Voting in the runoff election will begin on June 21 and end on July 16. GVEA members also approved a package of changes to the cooperative’s Bylaws, including one that will eliminate future runoff elections.
11.2 percent of GVEA members voted on the bylaw changes. In District 4, 1241 out of 6510 eligible members voted (19 percent). This was up from 14.7 percent in 2021. In District 7, 230 out of 1119 eligible members participated (20.5 percent). This was down from the 25 percent turnout in 2021. GVEA election districts differ in size; District 1-5 all have approximately the same number of members, but Districts 6 and 7, which represent more rural areas away from Fairbanks, have much fewer members
In District 4, incumbent Gary Newman was reelected, defeating challenger Harmony Tomaszewski in a spirited race. Newman received 650 votes (52.4 percent) to Tomaszewski’s 591 (47.6 percent). Newman was first elected to the GVEA Board in 2015 and will be serving his fourth term (unlike other Railbelt cooperatives, GVEA does not have term limits for board members). Now retired, Newman previously worked in a number of positions, including as Information System Administrator at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and Housing Manager for the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
Gary Newman, from his GVEA board profile
In District 7, no candidate reached the 40 percent threshold required to win. Krista Zappone was the top vote-getter, with 89 votes (38.7 percent), falling just short of the 40 percent requirement. Incumbent Todd Adams received 76 votes (33 percent) and Cyrus Cooper received 65 votes (28.3 percent). As per GVEA Bylaws, Zappone and Adams will now have a runoff election. Ballots will be sent to District 7 members on June 21, and electronic voting will open the same day. The deadline for returning ballots is 5 p.m. on July 16. As in the regular election, District 7 members will receive two items in the mail—a ballot packet with candidate information and a separate postcard with the password needed to log into the electronic voting portal (https://www.directvote.net/GVEA).
GVEA members also approved a general revision of GVEA’s Bylaws by a wide margin. 3232 members (79.5 percent) voted in favor of adopting the changes, while 831 (20.5 percent) were opposed. This package included both substantive changes and housekeeping edits. The most significant changes concerned election processes, virtual participation in member meetings, and conflict of interest policies. One approved change eliminates runoff elections like the one being held in District 7—in future years, the 40 percent voting threshold will be eliminated, and the highest vote-getter will win the election, regardless of what percentage of the vote they receive. The new Bylaws also codify the existing board practice of appointing unopposed candidates to directors’ seats, instead of running a one-candidate election.
Another change allows members to participate virtually in member meetings (such as the Annual Meeting). They will now count toward quorum and be able to vote on motions made during the meeting. The new Bylaws also include more stringent conflict of interest policies for directors, reducing the proportion of annual income a director’s business can derive from contracts with GVEA from 33 percent to 20 percent. A more comprehensive breakdown of bylaw changes can be found here.
In 2025 GVEA members will elect Directors for Districts 5 and 6. District 5 includes North Pole and areas south to the Salcha River. District 6 includes all GVEA service areas south of the Salcha River, including Delta Junction.
