Mike Chenault and Robert Wall are the new members of the Homer Electric Association Board of Directors representing the Central Kenai Peninsula.
Chenault, a resident of Nikiski, will represent Kenai, Nikiski and part of Soldotna for District 1. Chenault was previously a member of the Alaska Legislature and served as House Speaker.
He said he’s grateful for the opportunity.
“I think I can help ‘em, maybe at the local level and at the state level, as far as looking at ways to fund projects that will help the consumers of Homer Electric,” he said. “And look at other alternative energy sources and see if they pencil out. And if we can make ‘em work, then maybe that’s the way the co-op moves forward.”
Robert Wall, of Sterling, was elected for District 2, which represents Soldotna, Sterling and Kasilof. Wall’s currently a drilling rig supervisor.
He said he’s looking forward to getting to know the other board members.
“I’ll also need to learn more about the engineering department at HEA and start talking to them about how they can release some of the information that I was unable to get as somebody outside of the board,” he said. “And now, I should be able to look at more of the engineering. So I look forward to doing that with the engineering department.”
Both seats were open after incumbents David Thomas and Dave Carey termed out. The incumbent for District 3, representing the southern peninsula, lost to Homer’s Louie Flora.
Director of Member Relations Keriann Baker said HEA received 5,175 ballots in this election.
“Just shy of 21 percent of all of our members voted,” she said. “The last time we had that high of a voter turnout was over 10 years ago.”
Homer Electric had its annual members meeting tonight at 6 p.m. You can watch a recording of that meeting here.
The next HEA board meeting is May 11.
