FEC board appoints representative for Whitefish district

Gary Carmichael of Whitefish has been appointed to serve on Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees. 

He will represent members residing in District No. 3, which generally comprises the Whitefish and Big Mountain areas, until the 2024 Annual Meeting. At that time, a trustee will be elected by co-op members. A selection committee consisting of three trustees and three members-at-large from District #3 chose Carmichael from the six members who applied. 

Carmichael recently retired after a celebrated 33-year career as a history teacher and librarian. He was Montana’s 2007 Teacher of the Year. 

“As a high school American history teacher, I always enjoyed my students’ amazement at the impact of the Rural Electrification Act, which created the Flathead Electric Cooperative we know today. Through Board service, I am looking forward to continuing to share that positive impact as our society enters a new era of electricity usage,” said Carmichael after his appointment.  

Carmichael holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from the University of Montana and a Master of Arts from Western Governors University. Before retiring from the Whitefish School District in June, he taught at Muldown Elementary and the Whitefish middle and high schools. Carmichael has a broad background of interests and skill sets, including extensive experience with computer coding and years of involvement with the Boy Scouts. 

“The Board of Trustees is very pleased by the quality of the applicants interested in representing District #3,” said Gary Boe, president of the board. “Our decision was not an easy one — we have highly educated and experienced neighbors among us. However, Gary offers what’s needed to balance the makeup of the nine-member, democratically elected Board of Trustees that govern the co-op.”