
Flathead Electric Cooperative’s annual election closed Friday, May 17. The Board of Trustees met on Monday, May 20 to reconvene the Annual Meeting and announce the results. Independent election contractor Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) provided the official tabulation and the certified election results have been approved by the Board.
Results showed 6,595 ballots received. Of those ballots, 3,592 were paper mail-in ballots, and 3,003 were e-ballots.
Three seats on the Co-op’s Board of Trustees were up for election this year. Candidates had to be members of the Co-op and live in the district they sought election to represent. Incumbent Alan Ruby, representing District #5 (Kalispell, North of Highway 2), was unopposed, as were Gary Carmichael, appointed last fall by the Board to fill a District #3 (Whitefish, Big Mountain) vacancy, and John Sliney, who ran to represent District #2 (Lower Valley, Cooke City). Ruby received 5,593 votes, Carmichael received 4,971 votes, and Sliney received 4,827 votes. The Co-op’s bylaws require an election whether or not seats are contested.
This year’s election was the third in which electronic voting was available to members, via an emailed ballot, the My Co-op mobile app, or online account. E-voting saves significant paper and postage costs, which helps the not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative keep rates low.
Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Board and staff wish to extend a sincere thank you to those members who voted.
To learn more about how Flathead Electric Cooperative is governed, visit: How We’re Governed – Flathead Electric Cooperative.