Co-op annual meeting draws full crowd

Flathead Electric Cooperative's 44,000 members will have an opportunity to elect four board trustees in the next few weeks.

The seven individuals nominated for the positions gave brief speeches during the co-op's annual meeting on Saturday. About 600 people were in attendance.

Election ballots should be mailed to all co-op members in the first week of April. They should be returned to Flathead Electric's accounting firm by April 22, in the envelop that's provided; ballots delivered to the co-op headquarters will not be counted.

Results of the election will be available on April 27.

The seven candidates include:

. Karl Schrade, running unopposed in District 6, which covers the West Valley and Marion area.

Schrade has served on the Flathead Electric board since 1972, giving him a longer tenure than the other eight board members combined. He was born and raised in the Flathead, and farms the area northwest of Glacier Park International Airport.

. Paul Holland, running unopposed in District 8, which covers Bigfork and Rollins.

Holland was first elected to the board in 2001. Since then, the co-op has announced a rate decrease and a reduction in the monthly basic charge, updated the bylaws and overhauled the board policy manual, and increased the utility's equity from about 4 percent in 2001 to 17 percent today.

"I promise you I'll work hard for three more years," Holland said during Saturday's annual meeting.

. George Taylor in District 7, which covers Kalispell south of U.S. 2.

Taylor was appointed to the board two months ago, after Bruce Measure was named to the Northwest Power Planning Council. He's now seeking election to fill out the two years remaining on Measure's term.

Taylor has degrees in engineering and law. He worked as an engineering manager for Lockheed for 10 years, was a partner in a law firm for 18 years, then served 10 years as a Superior Court judge.

"All of that background gave me a desire to serve," Taylor said on Saturday. "Service above self is who I am."

. Phillip Crissman in District 7.

Crissman has lived in the Flathead since 1971. He has a degree in natural resources conservation from the University of Montana and has been a licensed clinical counselor for 18 years.

"I'm not looking to serve on the board because I think the co-op is doing something wrong," he said. "I think the co-op has a challenging future that will require creativity, agility and thinking outside the box. My whole life has equipped me to do that."

. Earl Messick in District 9, which covers the Libby area.

Messick has lived in the Libby area for almost 50 years. He worked for the GTE phone company for 28 years, has served on the local and state school boards and has volunteered with scouting activities for more than 30 years.

Since being elected to the Flathead Electric board in 2002, Messick has served on the Bylaws Committee, which rewrote the co-op's bylaws, and on the Budget and Finance Committee. He said he was also instrumental in getting the utility's Libby office opened full time.

. William Dancer in District 9.

Dancer has 24 years of business experience in sales, construction and administration. He moved to Libby two years ago and opened several businesses, including a mortgage company, a publishing business, and a residential and commercial development firm.

"I want to serve the community and serve the members of the co-op," he said. "I see great things coming."

. Mike Noble in District 9.

Noble has lived in Libby for 53 years. He is a master electrician, has owned an electrical business since 1985, and serves on several community boards.

"I'm a team player," he said on Saturday. "I'm aware of the various aspects of business operations and customer relations, [and] I'm willing to work with my fellow trustees to find solutions to the economic conditions in our community."

In other action on Saturday, the board presented a special award to Jim Sutherland, Flathead Electric's special projects manager, for personifying the co-op's mission to provide the highest level of service to its members.

Sutherland has worked for Flathead Electric since 1963.