No Contested Director Elections in 2025
Director elections scheduled for the 2025 Annual Meeting included elections for District 4, District 6, and District 7. Candidate Packets were received at MPE by the February 24 deadline from only the incumbents – Mark Volt representing Dist. 4, Justin Fosha representing Dist. 6, and Liz McIntyre representing Dist. 7. These directors will therefore remain in their seats for additional 4-year terms and no ballots will be mailed out to members. Following are excerpts from the directors’ written statements from their Candidate Packets explaining why they each wanted to run for re-election.
- MARK VOLT (District 4): I have lived in the Kremmling area and have been a MPE customer/ member since May 1983. In 2017, I retired/semi-retired from the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) as District Conservationist after 38 years of service. During that time, I worked with ranchers in Middle Park planning, designing and installing conservation practices on private ranch lands. Since first filling a vacancy on the MPE board back in 2018, I ran and was re-elected to the board in 2021. During my time on the board, I have done a lot of “learning by doing.” I have learned a bunch and have enjoyed serving for the last 7 years on the board. I feel that experience has given me a few skills... and some knowledge that will help me, if re-elected, to serve the members of Mountain Park Electric in providing reliable, affordable and safe electricity for the foreseeable future.
- JUSTIN FOSHA (District 6): I am excited to announce my candidacy for the MPEI Board of Directors, representing District 6. It would be a privilege to continue supporting our local cooperative as we navigate the evolving energy demands and usage, ensuring we adapt alongside the growth and changes in our community. If elected, this would mark my second full term representing MPEl. I bring a strong understanding of both Grand and Jackson Counties, having lived near Granby for nearly 40 years. With my business acumen, commitment to the members and owners of MPEI, historical knowledge of the cooperative, and a practical, common-sense approach, I am dedicated to serving the best interests of our community.
- LIZ McINTYRE (District 7): Much is at stake as Mountain Parks Electric (MPE) delivers affordable electricity to members across a 4000 square mile service territory, while striving to make its system safer, more reliable, and resilient. To support its Strategic Plan, the MPE Team applied for and has been awarded four grants totaling $110 million. An agreement with Conexon Connect to bring fiber to the home and a wholesale energy supply agreement with Guzman Energy will benefit MPE members far into the future. I am running because I am committed to hardening the system, reducing wildfire risk, and retaining the four grants. Over the last 15 years, I have diligently learned about MPE and the electric industry. A graduate of Dartmouth College, I spent 19 years (five Olympics) with the U.S. Ski/Snowboard Team. This area has been my home for more than 30 years. I will continue to show up, take a common sense approach, and work hard to serve you.
Director Election Notification
This is to notify all Mountain Parks Electric, Inc. (“Cooperative”) members that director elections are being prepared for Director District 4, District 6, and District 7. The election will take place at the Annual Meeting on April 26, 2025, at Middle Park High School, 795 North 2nd Street, in Granby. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8 a.m., and the business session will begin at 9:15 a.m. In-person balloting will be available during the business portion of the Annual Meeting for members who have not voted by mail. Balloting will cease no earlier than 10 minutes past the time the meeting is called to order. Directors serve a 4-year term and are elected from specific geographic areas within MPE’s service territory..
How to become a candidate
To be eligible to become or remain a director, any member in good standing of the Cooperative and who meets the qualifications of Bylaw Article IV, Section 3(a) and (b) is eligible to submit a Candidate Packet to become a candidate for the Board of Directors no later than 5 p.m. on February 24, 2025. Candidate Packets are available at MPE’s offices in Granby and Walden and can also be mailed to candidates upon request. Nominating petitions must be signed by at least 15 qualified members of the Cooperative residing or receiving service in the candidate’s district and submitted to the Cooperative accompanied by the supporting documents specified in Article IV Section 3(a) of MPE’s Bylaws. Any questions regarding election procedures can be directed to Aaron Street at 970-887-3378.
Voting
In the case of a contested election, mail-in ballots will be mailed to members in the corresponding contested election district. Ballots will be mailed no later than April 1, 2025. Members receiving a ballot can cast their ballots by return mail, by dropping off their ballots at MPE’s Granby or Walden office, or by voting in person at the Annual Meeting. Mail-in ballots must be received by the Credentials Committee by April 23, 2025. Members voting by mail-in ballot will not be allowed to vote at the Annual Meeting.
Qualifications (from Article IV, Section 3 of MPE’s Bylaws)
- (a) Each candidate for election to the Board shall be a member of the Cooperative and shall have his/her “main home” in the District for and in which the election is to be held, (as the term “main home” is defined by the Internal Revenue Service), and who shall have furnished the Cooperative with a written statement telling why the member wishes to run for election and that the member, if elected, can and will attend all meetings of the Board, subject only to unforeseen conditions beyond the control of the member, and meets or will meet the qualifications set forth in subparagraph (b) below.
- (b) To be eligible to become or remain Director, the person shall: (i) be a member of the Cooperative; (ii) receive electric service from the Cooperative at his or her “main home”; (iii) be able to actively participate in the management of the business and affairs of the Cooperative; (iv) not be employed by, substantially financially interested in, or represent the interests of a business in competition with the Cooperative; and (v) become NRECA certified as a director through course attendance within five (5) years of the election or appointment as a Director.
- (i) No more than two (2) Directors (other than a publicly elected government official) shall be permitted to serve concurrently who are either employees of, serve as a Director or trustee of, or act as a consultant to, the same organization. Employee means employment for at least 20 hours per week for 20 consecutive weeks.
- (ii) If a circumstance described in (i) arises after a Director is elected, the Director who obtains a relationship with an organization subsequent to the formation of a relationship with an organization subsequent to the formation of a relationship by other Directors shall be disqualified from serving.