DURANGO, Colo. – The La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Board of Directors today elected John Witchel as the new director for LPEA’s District 4 in compliance with Art. III, Sec. 7 of the LPEA Bylaws and LPEA Board Policy 120. Witchel will fill the position vacated by Director Jack D. Turner upon the conclusion of today’s LPEA board meeting and will hold the position until the expiration of Director Turner’s original term at the Annual Member Meeting in 2022. Witchel joins Tim Wheeler and Sue McWilliams as the district’s representatives.
A total of 19 LPEA members applied for the open seat. LPEA’s Board of Directors reviewed applicants and selected four finalists for interviews which took place on September 14th 2020. The four finalists were Pam Patton, George Hepner, Guinn Unger, and John Witchel. During today’s board meeting, board directors placed their final anonymous votes (except Director Jack D. Turner who abstained) and selected John Witchel as the new director by majority vote.
The LPEA Board of Directors is a governing board with two primary roles: to support the success of the cooperative and to protect public interest through the examination and monitoring of cooperative information. The board sets strategic direction and establishes policy. It is responsible for hiring and evaluating the CEO and for developing and approving LPEA’s mission, vision, and strategic plan.
LPEA is a member-owned, not-for-profit, electric distribution cooperative serving La Plata and Archuleta, with segments of Hinsdale, Mineral and San Juan counties. LPEA is the fifth largest cooperative of 22 in Colorado, and aims to provide safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost to its approximately 34,500 members. For additional information, contact LPEA at (970) 247-5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.
