To be eligible to run for the LPEA Board of Directors, candidates must:  

    • be a member of LPEA for at least one year immediately prior to becoming a director;  
    • be a bona fide resident of the district you plan to represent for at least 120 days prior to becoming a director and;  
    • not be employed by, or have a spouse or child employed by, LPEA in any position.  

    2027 Election Timeline  

    TBD: Application period opens for the LPEA Board of Directors   
    TBD: Candidate Applications and petitions due to LPEA    
    TBD: Election Supervisory Committee (ESC) to qualify candidates and determine ballot order
    TBD: Deadline to opt out of paper ballots and Initial Director Candidate Financial Disclosures due by 5:00 PM MDT
    TBD: Ballots and written notice of annual meeting mailed and online voting opens at 8:00 AM MDT. Intermediate Director Candidate Financial Disclosures due by 5:00 PM MDT.
    TBD Final Director Candidate Financial Disclosures (including updates to prior disclosures) due by 12:30 PM MDT.
    TBD: Online voting closes at Noon and paper ballots are due by 4:00 PM MDT.
    TBD: LPEA Annual Meeting: Election results announced  
    TBD: Director Candidate Financial Disclosure updates due (including corrections or additions of previously omitted items) by 5:00 PM MDT
    TBD: First board meeting for new directors   

    We no longer include the candidate's biographical information on the printed ballot insert. We can also mail a copy to members upon request via msr@lpea.coop. 

    Procedures and Deadlines

    Election and Annual Meeting FAQ

    Each year, LPEA’s membership elects four representatives to the LPEA Board of Directors. Cooperative members vote for a single representative in the District where they live. Businesses that purchase electricity from LPEA also have a vote in their districts. One member equals one vote. This means that often there is only one vote per household given to the person whose name the LPEA account is listed under.

    Visit this page and enter your street address in the address search box in the browser's upper right corner. The map image will increase to display your address's location. Using your mouse, move the pointer over your home or business image and left-click to verify your address location. A pop-up will display your LPEA voting district.

    How to Vote:

    Online via SmartHub: Log in to your secure SmartHub account (where members pay their bills online). A "Vote Now" button will appear for eligible voters, allowing members to access the secure voting portal. Follow the instructions to complete and submit your electronic ballot. Once submitted, the "Vote Now" button will disappear. Members who are signed up for Smarthub will receive an email when voting opens, containing a direct link to complete their ballot online.

    Mail-in Ballots: Paper ballots will be mailed to LPEA members in mid-April. Members can complete and return their ballots by mail or by 24-hour drop box at either LPEA office. LPEA ballots can no longer be dropped at La Plata County or Archuleta County ballot boxes and must be received only at LPEA drop boxes at 45 Stewart Street in Durango or 603 S. 8th St. in Pagosa Springs.

    In-Person Voting: Members may vote in person at the Annual Meeting.

    How Online Voting Works

    🟡 Email: If you have an email address registered to your LPEA account, you will receive an email when voting goes live. Members with a SmartHub account can follow the link and use your SmartHub credentials to login and access your online ballot.

    🟡 SmartHub: When voting opens, all eligible voters will see a "Vote Now" button in their secure SmartHub account (where you go if you pay your bill online.)

    • Click the "Vote Now" button to navigate to the secure voting portal.
    • Review the voting instructions and complete your electronic ballot.
    • Submit your ballot. This is final and after voting, the "Vote Now" button will no longer be visible in your SmartHub account.

    Members can complete and return their ballots by mail in the pre-paid envelope provided, or at the official LPEA ballot dropboxes located at both LPEA offices:

    • Durango: 45 Stewart Street
    • Pagosa Springs: 603 S. 8th St.

    LPEA ballots can no longer be dropped at La Plata County or Archuleta County ballot boxes.

    LPEA registration staff will have a list of eligible voters provided by SBS.

    If a member has already cast a ballot online, via mail or via dropbox by the deadline, they will not be able to vote in person. If none applies, a member will be able to cast a vote via paper ballot in-person at the annual meeting.

    For replacement ballots, members should contact our Member Service Representitives (MSRs) who will facilitate the member verification and ensure the members receive their new ballot.

    They can be reached at: (970) 247-5786 or memberservices@lpea.coop.

    Replacement ballots are not available at our offices.

    Members can also opt to vote online or visit us in person at the annual meeting to vote.

    No. If you attempt to vote online and via paper ballot, only your paper ballot will be counted. 

    LPEA's annual reports are posted on this page. 

    Under Colorado law, “Each candidate for a position on the board of directors is entitled to receive a membership list in an electronic format upon receipt and verification of a valid petition. The membership list must include the names and addresses of all members, including all joint members, as they appear in the association's records. Candidates shall use such lists only for purposes of the election and shall return or destroy them immediately after the election.” C.R.S. § 40-9.5-110 (1)(b).

    As cooperative electric associations are a form of nonprofit corporation under Colorado law, we look to the Colorado Corporations and Associations Act for the definition of “Address.” Under this law, “‘Address’ means a mailing address, a street address, or an address for delivery of an electronic transmission.” C.R.S. § 7-90-102 (1)(emphasis added).

    As this is the law of the State of Colorado, LPEA is not allowed to modify or deviate from it. Therefore, LPEA’s policies are designed to conform to these laws. LPEA Policy 108(II)(C) addresses the terms for providing a list of member names and addresses to qualified candidates and other members in relation to LPEA elections. All candidates are required to comply with this policy and complete a nondisclosure agreement. The policy and the nondisclosure agreement can be found here:

    https://lpea.coop/sites/default/files/2026-02/Policy%20108-%20Disclosure%20of%20Cooperative%20Information.pdf

    https://lpea.coop/sites/default/files/2024/Policy-Legal/Policy%20108%20-%20Exhibit%202%20-%20NDA%20Agreement.pdf

    The Colorado statutes are publicly available in a number of places, including directly through the Colorado Legislature’s website:

    https://content.leg.colorado.gov/agencies/office-legislative-legal-services/colorado-revised-statutes

    LPEA’s policies are available on our website as linked above.

    As Colorado law entitles candidates to this member information, the only way to opt out is to withdraw your membership in the cooperative. This is possible under Article I, Section 5 of LPEA’s Bylaws, which states, “ Any member may withdraw from membership upon compliance with such terms and conditions as the board of directors may prescribe.” Anyone who elects to withdraw their membership in the cooperative becomes a “customer” under Article I, Section 1 of LPEA’s Bylaws. According to that section, “A consumer shall not be entitled to vote at any meeting of the association or to cast a written ballot on any issue submitted to the members for decision.”

    Because the statute only entitles candidates to a list of members, LPEA does not include contact information for customers who are not entitled to participate in LPEA’s elections. The list provided by LPEA to qualified candidates only includes members who can vote.

    A copy of our bylaws can be found here:

    https://lpea.coop/sites/default/files/2024-04/LPEA%20Bylaws%20April%202024.pdf

    In accordance with the law, LPEA provides member names, mailing addresses, and email addresses. It does not provide phone numbers or other forms of personal information. This information is available to qualified candidates for LPEA’s Board of Directors who complete the nondisclosure form.

    LPEA requires any candidate requesting this information to sign a nondisclosure agreement. Also, Colorado law requires that such information be used “only for purposes of the election” and that candidates “shall return or destroy [the information] immediately after the election.”

    As noted above, this is a matter of Colorado law, and LPEA cannot modify it. The only way to have your information removed from these lists is to withdraw your status as a member under Article I, Section 5 of LPEA’s Bylaws and forego your opportunity to participate in LPEA’s governance.

     

    LPEA only distributes the member information to the candidates in a specific district. You may view your district candidates on our election page at LPEA.coop/elections. 

    This information is provided shortly after candidates are qualified by LPEA’s independent Election Supervisory Committee. 

    The restrictions on use, retention, and further sharing are those listed in Colorado law and the nondisclosure agreement. Namely, that the information may only be used for the election, that it must be returned or destroyed immediately after the election, and that the recipient must keep all information “in strict confidence and shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose, disseminate, use, or otherwise publish the Confidential Information, except as may be required by law.”

    Board of Directors Additional Information

    The Board of Directors of LPEA is established by the LPEA Bylaws. The board meet at least monthly, and more frequently when determined necessary. 

    The board sets strategic direction and establishes policy. It is responsible for hiring and evaluating the CEO, and for developing and approving the Mission and Vision statements and Strategic Plan. The CEO is responsible for directing staff and carrying out the will of the board. The staff is responsible for carrying out the business of the cooperative in close consultation with the CEO. The LPEA Bylaws and board policies outlining board and CEO duties and responsibilities can be viewed on our website. 

    The LPEA Board of Directors is a governing board with two primary roles: to support the success of the cooperative and to protect public interest through examination and monitoring of cooperative information. The board has three essential duties: 

    1. Duty of Care – Exercise the same amount of care, caution, and common sense as any prudent person would in carrying out responsibilities to the organization. 
    2. Duty of Obedience – Comply with all federal, state, and local statutes and laws. Be faithful to the organization’s Mission, and abide by the bylaws, policies, rules, and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors. 
    3. Duty of Loyalty – As a director of the cooperative, you have a fiduciary role. That means in any conflict, you must put the interests of the cooperative above your own interests. 

    LPEA Directors are expected to attend regular board meetings which typically take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., on the third Wednesday of every month; as well as, Committee of the Whole meetings as set by the Board of Directors, from time to time, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the Wednesday board meeting. 

    There are various board committees and other board commitments, such as Colorado Rural Electric Association meetings, etc. Directors may participate as a committee member or as a guest. 

    A director can expect to spend an average of 7.25 hours per week preparing, studying, and serving on the board (based on 2017 IRS Form 990), and may attend up to 10 days of board- approved education and/or training per year. Director training and certification courses are available through the Colorado Rural Electrical Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

    This summary of duties and responsibilities is neither exhaustive, nor representative of all circumstances under which the board performs its duties. Newly elected directors will receive an orientation with more details once they begin. 

    Before considering a run for an LPEA board seat, please review board policies 102, 105, 107, 108, and 109, which can all be found here.  

    Please take note of the following important election-related clauses: 

    • The LPEA board shall not take a position of support or opposition for any individual candidate for a board election. 
    • Individual directors are prohibited from using Cooperative resources to send communications regarding the election and may not use Cooperative resources to send individual newsletters. 
    • Resources of the Cooperative, including the Cooperative’s logo, trademarks, and graphic standards, shall not be used to support or oppose a candidate for election. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “resources” means any items owned or maintained by the Cooperative, such as Cooperative email addresses, electronic devices, printing, postage, mailing, employee time, or other monetary expenditures of the Cooperative. The term “resources” shall not include the membership list provided to bona fide candidates running for director. 
    • No candidate may solicit for nominating petition signatures on Cooperative property or use Cooperative resources in campaign efforts, other than obtaining a list of members from the Cooperative in accordance with applicable policy and state statute. 
    • The ballot position of a qualified Director candidate will be determined on a random basis prior to the publication of the ballot by the Election Supervisory Committee. 
    • The Cooperative shall report, at least weekly, the gross tally of returned envelopes on the Cooperative’s website. Said tally shall be the only information released regarding the number of envelopes. Prior to the conclusion of the election, no information shall be released regarding information on the number of ballots returned by district or the names of members who have or have not returned envelopes. 
    • No person shall be allowed to electioneer, photograph, videotape, or tape record any voting activity in the registration and voting area while an election is in progress. Such area shall include that portion of the interior of the building that is readily visible from where registration and voting is taking place. 
    • Posting of campaign literature on Cooperative property or at any special or regular meeting, including the annual meeting of the membership, is prohibited. 
    • Political campaigning, including campaigning for Cooperative issues, is not allowed on Cooperative property. This includes soliciting for signatures on petitions, soliciting for campaign funding, and campaigning for an individual or any other ballot issues. 
    • All candidates running for a position on LPEA’s board shall disclose all monetary and in-kind contributions received by the candidate or paid at the request or through coordination with the candidate, whose individual value is greater than $20. The candidate shall also include a brief description of all in-kind contributions received. The Cooperative shall send all candidates a one-week reminder email prior to the due date of any report and shall send the candidate an acknowledgement email when a report is received.  

    Board of Directors Election

    2026 Board of Directors Election

    In accordance with our bylaws, one-third of LPEA’s Board of Directors seats are up for election annually, one in each voting district. On May 20, 2026, the results of the LPEA 2026 director election will be announced at our annual meeting. 

    Candidate Campaign Finance Reports (Initial | Interim | Final): 

    2025 Board of Directors Election

    In accordance with our bylaws, one-third of LPEA’s Board of Directors seats are up for election annually, one in each voting district. On May 21, 2025, the results of the LPEA 2025 director election will be announced at a our annual meeting. 

    Candidate Campaign Finance Reports (Interim | Final): 

    2024 Board of Directors Election

    In accordance with our bylaws, one-third of LPEA’s Board of Directors seats are up for election annually, one in each voting district. On September 18th, 2024, the results of the LPEA 2024 director election will be announced at a our annual meeting. 

    Candidate Campaign Finance Reports (FINAL): 

    2023 Board of Directors Election

    In accordance with our bylaws, one-third of LPEA’s Board of Directors seats are up for election annually, one in each voting district. On June 8th, 2023, the results of the LPEA 2023 director election were announced at a our annual meeting. 

    Final Vote Counts

    Candidate Campaign Finance Reports (FINAL): 

    On March 16, 2022 (and for the first time since 2004), the LPEA Board of Directors voted to cancel the 2022 LPEA director election in all four districts. For the news release on this announcement, click HERE.

    Per LPEA Bylaws, one seat in each of LPEA's four districts comes up for election annually. If there is only one nominee for a position on the board for a district, the board may cancel the election for that district and, by resolution, declare the sole nominee elected to the board. 

    As no challenger applications were received, Holly Metzler (District 1 – Archuleta County), Dan Huntington (District 2 – South & West La Plata County), Joe Lewandowski (District 3 – City of Durango), and John Witchel (District 4 – North & East La Plata County) are re-elected as a director of their respective districts as of May 12, 2022, for a three-year term. Click the links above to access the candidate's signature sheets as required to run for a director seat.

    2021 Board of Directors Election

    In accordance with our bylaws, one-third of LPEA’s Board of Directors seats are up for election annually, one in each voting district. On June 17th, 2021, the results of the LPEA 2021 director election were announced at a partial, virtual annual meeting. 

    Final vote counts

    Candidate Campaign Finance Reports (FINAL): 

    2020 Board of Directors Election - District 4

    On September 16th, 2020, John Witchel was elected to the director seat in District 4 in compliance with Art. III, Sec. 7 of the LPEA Bylaws and LPEA Board Policy 120. He will fill the position vacated by Director Jack D. Turner until the expiration of Director Turner’s original term, occurring at the Annual Member Meeting in 2022.

    On May 16th, 2020, the results of the LPEA 2020 director election were announced at the partial, virtual annual meeting. The official election results announcement can be found HERE. 

    Final 2020 director election ballot count 

    Candidate Campaign Finance Reports: 

    The ESC is responsible for issuing a public statement of findings after a dispute resolution during an election cycle. 

    May 15, 2026

    Notice from LPEA's independent Election Supervisory Committee (ESC):

    A member posted a claim on social media that someone voted electronically, then checked their vote & found that it had been changed. Another member asked the ESC to look into the claim.

    Our conclusion is that electronic voting is very secure. What is described would not have happened because once the ballot is submitted, it is no longer accessible for changing or viewing. If a member has submitted their online ballot, when they try to log in (to vote or look) again, they will receive the following error message (and the ballot itself will not show): “You have already Voted. According to our records, you have attempted to login to the Electronic ballot after already submitting a valid official ballot. Your vote cannot be changed at this time. Please contact DirectVote user support below should you have any questions.” There is also a link to click on for user support.

    When a member votes electronically, they are given the opportunity to view their ballot (with their votes indicated) on the screen when they are given the opportunity to "Submit.”  A voter typo is possible, resulting in something the voter did not intend. In that case, the voter may go back & correct the vote. Once they select “Submit," the ballot cannot be seen, but it will be added to the official final tally.

    For more information about Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS), contracted by LPEA to conduct the election, please see https://www.surveyandballotsystems.com.