Flathead Electric Cooperative members elect Trustees, approve Bylaw amendments

KALISPELL, Montana – Flathead Electric Cooperative members have completed the 2026 annual
election, electing all three incumbents on the Board of Trustees and approving two proposed Bylaw
amendments.
The Board met Monday, May 18, to approve the certified election results. The Co-op’s annual election
opened April 17 and closed May 15 with a total of 4,817 ballots cast this year. Of those ballots cast,
2,662 were paper ballots and 2,155 were submitted online.
Running unopposed, incumbent Trustees Duane Braaten (District 6 – West Valley, Kila and Ashley Lake)
and Terry Crooks (District 9 – Libby) were re-elected to continue serving on the Co-op’s Board. Also
running unopposed, Preston Lowe (District 8 – Bigfork) was elected after being appointed to the Board
in December 2025 to fill a vacancy. Each Trustee is elected to serve a three-year term.
Braaten received 4,277 votes, Crooks received 4,129 and Lowe received 4,146.
In addition to Trustee elections, members voted in favor of two proposed amendments to the Co-op’s
Bylaws. The amendments addressed concerns over election costs, modernized governance language and
ensured the Bylaws reflect current Co-op operations and industry best practices.
The first amendment, which received 4,316 votes in support, allows the Co-op to forgo conducting
Trustee elections in years when all open board seats are uncontested. The proposal was placed on the
ballot following member feedback expressing concern over the cost of uncontested elections, which
totaled approximately $62,000 during the Co-op’s most recent uncontested election cycle.
The second amendment, with 4,382 votes in support, included a series of general updates intended to
modernize and clarify the Co-op’s Bylaws. The revisions reflected recommendations from national
electric cooperative organizations, legal counsel and Co-op staff, and addressed areas including Trustee
qualifications, electronic communications, membership provisions, capital credits and operational
language.
The amendments do not alter the Co-op’s not-for-profit structure or member ownership rights.

The Board is the governing body of the Co-op. The Co-op’s members elect other members to represent
them on the Board. There are nine districts, each with a representative on the Board. Candidates are
required to be Co-op members and live in the district they seek to represent.
Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Trustees and staff extend a sincere thank you to those members who voted.