Great Lakes Energy Members Elect Three Board Directors

Boyne City, MI – Great Lakes Energy (GLE) members recently elected three board members to the cooperative’s board of directors. Election results were announced at the cooperative’s annual business meeting on Aug. 26, 2026.

In District 3, incumbent director Ric Evans of Ellsworth was reelected, receiving 467 votes in an uncontested race.

In District 4, challenger Ed Hunt of Gaylord prevailed over incumbent Mary O’Connell, of Gaylord, and challenger Constance (Connie) Keene-Meyer, of Frederic. Ed received 539 votes, while Mary received 524 votes, and Connie received 217 votes.

In District 5, incumbent Dale Farrier of Kalkaska prevailed over challenger Gary White, also of Kalkaska, by a 493-394 margin.

GLE members in voting Districts 3 (Antrim County), 4 (Crawford, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Otsego counties), and 5 (Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, and Wexford counties) received their mail-in ballots in the July/August issue of Michigan Country Lines magazine. This year’s election marked the fourth year members had the option of voting online. Instructions for online voting were included with the mail-in ballots. GLE’s election management vendor, Survey and Ballot Systems of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, processed both online and mail-in ballots. The election concluded on Aug. 20, and results were announced at the cooperative’s annual business meeting on Aug. 26 at its headquarters in Boyne City.

Unlike investor-owned utilities, GLE is a not-for-profit business owned by its consumer-members. Board members are elected to three-year terms by members, not staff, with each member’s vote carrying equal weight. The cooperative conducts an annual meeting to update members on the progress made during the past year and to announce the results of director elections.

GLE provides electricity to more than 130,000 rural members in 26 counties along the western side of the Lower Peninsula. Visit gtlakes.com/board-of-directors/ for more information.