Bygren, Crooks elected to Flathead Electric board

Two new members will join the board of Flathead Electric Co-op following a mail-ballot election that ended on Friday.

Jerry Bygren unseated incumbent Paul Holland for the District 8-Bigfork position by receiving 3,684 votes to Holland’s 2,750. Earl Messick did not seek re-election in District 9-Libby, so Terry Crooks of Libby, who ran unopposed, was elected to the position 5,896 votes.

Four seats on the Flathead Electric Board of Trustees were up for election this year. Candidates had to be members of the co-op and live in the district they sought election to represent.

Ballots were due at the office of auditing firm, JCCS, by Friday. Flathead Electric received certification from CPA Tony Vanorny of JCCS that a total of 6,803 ballots were received, which was up from 4,838 ballots received in 2016.

Incumbent trustees Duane Braaten (District 6-West Valley, Marion) and Gary Boe (District 7-Kalispell, South of U.S. 2) ran unopposed and were re-elected to the board, receiving 5,967 and 5,830 votes respectively.

In a written statement, the co-op said, “FEC wants to thank Paul Holland, who was first elected to the board in 2000, and Earl Messick, elected in 2002, for their many years of service as trustees.

They have served our members with honor and distinction and we truly appreciate their hard work and dedication.

The board and staff also wish to extend a sincere thank you to those who voted and encourage members to continue to stay involved with the future success of Flathead Electric Cooperative.”

For more information, visit https://www.flatheadelectric.com.