Incumbents keep seats on Flathead Electric Board of Trustees

The Daily Inter Lake

All three incumbents who were up for re-election to the Flathead Electric Cooperative board of directors won new terms on the utility's board.

The co-op announced Friday that Emery Smith, the only trustee facing opposition, won a four-way District 2 race.

Smith received 2,361 votes, Ken Siderius 2,163, Ed Berry 1,509 and Terry Moore 726.

Jay Downen from District 3 and Alan Ruby from District 5, who were unopposed for re-election, also were seated for new terms at the board's reorganizational meeting.

Candidates in the election spoke at Flathead Electric's 72nd annual members' meeting March 21 in Kalispell, which more than 1,000 people attended.

Those attending also heard about the co-op's financial stability and its continued focus on energy efficiency.

The co-op said 6,993 ballots were received by the April 10 deadline. Certified Public Accountant Tony Vanorny certified the ballots and delivered election results.

Voting co-op members also approved a bylaw change, 5,707 to 855.

It will allow, under exceptional circumstances, trustees to attend board meetings by telephone or other audible means of communication.