Results of the 2025 La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) election were announced at the cooperative’s annual meeting on May 21st, 2025. This meeting was held to not only elect and seat new directors but also to present LPEA’s 2024 annual report and accomplishments. In accordance with LPEA Bylaws, one seat in each of LPEA’s four districts comes up for election annually. 

Detailed election results are as follows. There were no bylaw amendments on the ballot for this election term. 

• District 1 (Archuleta County): Dusty Mars won with 1,075 votes. Holly Metzler received 739 votes. 

• District 2 (South and West La Plata County): Brad Blake won with 1,768 votes.Terry Greiner received 401 votes and Greg Barber received 367 votes.

• District 3 (City of Durango): Joe Lewandowski won with 1,718 votes. David Peters received 640 votes.

• District 4 (North & East La Plata County): John Witchel won with 1,391 votes. Lyle McKnight received 1,337 votes. 

Of the 37,384 eligible voters in all districts, a total of 9,446 LPEA members cast votes for a 25.27% return rate. Of these, 4,433 (47%) were cast using LPEA’s new online voting option.

This year marked a milestone in LPEA’s commitment to member engagement, with the introduction of online voting. The added convenience appears to have played a key role in increasing turnout, with nearly half of voters casting their ballots online.

Officers will be seated at the next meeting of the LPEA Board of Directors scheduled for Wednesday, June 18th beginning at 9 am at LPEA in Durango. Members can join virtually (or attend in person). Meeting details can be accessed at lpea.coop/lpea-board-directors-resources.