The local member-owned electric cooperative, Orcas Power and Light Co-op, announces the slate of candidates for its board of directors.

This is each member’s opportunity to influence who sets co-op policies and rates. Every OPALCO member has the right to vote in each election, regardless of their home district, with one vote per membership.

For this 2015 election, there are four candidates running for two open positions in District 2 (Orcas, Armitage, Blakely, Obstruction, Big Double, Little Double and Fawn Islands).

The 2015 candidates are: Winnie Adams (incumbent), Randy J. Cornelius, Ed Sutton and Chris Thomerson (incumbent). Candidate bios are sent by mail to each co-op member with their ballot, and are available online at www.opalco.com. This year, there is one member-initiated bylaw amendment.

Ballots and a voting guide will be mailed the week of April 8 and the annual report will be posted online.  Co-op members can vote one of three ways: online, by mail or in person at the annual meeting. Voting online is the preferred method; it is secure and it saves co-op resources.

A survey on this year’s ballot will ask you how you prefer to vote; beginning next year paper ballots will not be sent to those who prefer to vote online.

Absentee balloting closes at 10 a.m. on May 1. If members choose to vote by absentee ballot, the ballot must be mailed in time to meet the deadline. Or members can vote at the annual meeting on Saturday, May 2. Members and their families who attend the 78th annual meeting aboard a Washington State ferry will be treated to lunch. The meeting begins at 9:45 a.m. on the ferry. Members should arrive earlier than their boarding time to park and register.

Members who are disabled or require special accommodations to participate in the meeting should call Bev Madan at 376-3549 to make arrangements. Full travel details, including ferry departures, are available at www.opalco.com.