On April 22, 2026, nominating petitions will be available in three districts for Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members who wish to seek election to the cooperative’s board of directors.
Three board positions, each for three years, will need to be filled. Qualifying GLE members who reside in districts 3, 4, or 5 can seek election to the board.
Counties by district are:
District 3 – Antrim County
District 4 – Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties
District 5 – Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties
The terms of directors Ric Evans of Ellsworth (District 3), Mary O’Connell of Gaylord (District 4), and Dale Farrier of Kalkaska (District 5) expire this year. The three incumbents plan to seek reelection.
To get a name on the ballot, qualifying member-owners of the electric cooperative who maintain a primary residence within its service area must file a nominating petition. Petitions will be available on April 22, 2026, and must be signed by at least 50 active GLE members within the candidate’s district. Completed petitions are due by noon on June 12, 2026, at the GLE office in Boyne City.
GLE members in districts 3, 4, and 5 will receive a mail-in ballot, online voting instructions, and candidate profiles with their July/August issue of Michigan Country Lines. Election results will be announced on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, at the cooperative’s annual business meeting.
Visit gtlakes.com/board-of-directors to request a petition or learn more.
When Do We Vote?
Great Lakes Energy members elect a candidate from within their district to the cooperative’s board of directors once every three years.
Find the district in which you reside below to determine when you will receive a mail-in ballot that will accompany the annual election issue of Michigan Country Lines. The ballots also include instructions on how members can take advantage of an online voting option.
2026 Election
District 3 – Antrim County
District 4 – Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties
District 5 – Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties
2027 Election
District 1 – Emmet County
District 2 – Charlevoix and Cheboygan counties
District 7 – Muskegon and Oceana counties
2028 Election
District 6 – Lake and Mason counties
District 8 – Clare, Mecosta, and Osceola counties
District 9 – Allegan, Barry, Kent, Montcalm, and Ottawa counties