Dakota Electric Association Election Will Occur April 12-29

Burnsville MN

22 March, 2021

5:25 PM

Description

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN— Ballots for Dakota Electric Association's annual board election will be mailed on April 12, the association said. Dakota Electric Association provides electricity to over 110,000 people in Dakota County, as well as portions of surrounding counties, the association said. The annual meeting will not be held this year due to the pandemic, the association said. In the past, members could bring their ballots to the annual meeting, but due to the pandemic, they now must vote online or mail the ballot in the postage-paid envelope to Survey and Ballot Systems, the association said. Ballots must be received by April 29 in order to be counted and won't be counted if brought to Dakota Electric Association's office, the association said. Each director that gets elected will serve a term of three years, the association said. The candidates for the four districts up for re-election this year include: District 1Jerry Pittman, Lakeville, incumbent Kevin Grass, Burnsville District 2 Clay Van De Bogart, Lakeville, incumbent Michael Hanninen, Lakeville District 3 Kenneth Danner, Apple Valley, incumbent Jarod Griswold, Apple Valley District 4 Judy Kimmes, Hampton, incumbent Vijendra (VJ) Agarwal, Inver Grove Heights Michael Cahn, Rosemount Philip Hernick, Eagan Paula Overby, Eagan Also on the ballots is a bylaw change that would provide guidance for the removal of a director in the case of death or incapacitation, the association said. Election results will be posted April 29 on Dakota Electric's website, the association said. "As a member-owned cooperative," Board Chair Jerry Pittman said, "we hold an annual meeting as a way to communicate with our members about the operation of the cooperative. Fortunately, our bylaws do not stipulate that a meeting must be held each year, so given the current situation, we are able to cancel the meeting and still follow our bylaws."