Incumbent Homer Electric Association directors Mike Nugent of Kenai (District 1) and Debbie Debnam of Sterling (District 2) were elected to three-year terms by the membership of the electric cooperative. Also elected to a seat on the board was Brian Hirsch of Homer (District 3). 

The results were announced at the HEA Annual Meeting at Kenai Central High School on May 3.

In District 1 (Kenai and Nikiski area), Mike Nugent ran unopposed and received 876 votes.

In District 2 (Soldotna - Sterling area), Debbie Debnam received 707 votes and Ed Oberts finished with 541.

In District 3 (Kasilof - Kachemak Bay area), Brian Hirsch ended up with 624 votes to win a seat on the board.  He defeated incumbent Roseleen “Snooks” Moore who received 527 votes.  Other candidates in the District 3 race included Loren Ahlers of Kasilof who received 136 votes and Jenny Dewees of Homer who ended up with 121 votes.

Homer Electric members also approved two bylaw propositions that were on the ballot.

Proposition 1, which eliminates the practice of nominating director candidates from the floor at the Annual Meeting, passed by a vote of 2,546 YES and  1056 NO.

Proposition 2, which gives the board the option to consider early retirement of capital credits at a discounted rate, received 2,730 YES votes and 806 NO votes.

The Annual Meeting was well attended, with 197 members registering and the total number of people at the event was well over 300.

The meeting featured several informational booths with an emphasis on safety, Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and Geographical Information System (GIS).  The Red Cross also had a booth and distributed complimentary smoke detectors to the audience.

During the business portion of the meeting, HEA General Manager Brad Janorschke reviewed the highlights of the previous year and participated in an informative question and answer session with the membership.   

Several scholarships and awards were handed out at the meeting, including special recognition of HEA employee Susan Saxton for her many years of outstanding service to the cooperative.  HEA attorney Rick Baldwin was also recognized for his contributions over the last 25 years as the cooperative’s legal representative.