2024 MEA District Board Seat Elections

It has been my pleasure to serve you for the last eight years on the MEA Board of Directors, and the last two as the Board President. We are at a pivotal juncture, some call it a crossroads, I call it a roundabout with about 30 different exits. Because of this I firmly believe it is more important than ever to have experienced and knowledgeable leaders on the board, which is why I am running again.

‍
I have successfully fought hard to keep rates affordable and our service reliable, while looking after our seniors and families who have many financial challenges. I have championed safe, reliable, and affordable energy, while looking at increasing access to clean energy across the Railbelt system. With waning Cook Inlet gas reserves, the future to our energy stability and affordability is new transmission lines that will expand access to various clean energy sources ensuring our rates remain affordable.

‍
With eight years of experience and knowledge under my belt, I look forward to serving another term to tackle these challenging times and to ensure you receive the best outcome possible. I'd be honored to have your support.

My name is Bill Kendig, and I am running for re-election to the MEA Board of Directors. I have called the Mat-Su home since 1987, where I began my real estate and mortgage lending career more than 30 years ago. I was thrilled to raise my two children here and firmly believe the Valley is a very special place. I have dedicated my life to public service to ensure we will always have a thriving community for our children and grandchildren. I have served on the MEA Board of Directors for 8 years and am the current President. I am proud to stand by my record of fighting to keep energy rates affordable and reliable while looking to the future to expand access to clean, affordable energy. When I was first elected to the MEA Board, there was an outside for-profit entity that wanted to control the Railbelt utilities, which are member owned non-profit utilities. We led the charge against this effort and saved our members $6,000,000 per year forever. These are the critical things your MEA Board does and why this race is particularly important.
‍

In 2019, Governor Dunleavy appointed me to the Alaska Energy Authority Board and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority Board, which I currently serve as the Vice Chair. These positions have allowed me to work tirelessly with the governor to plan for declining natural gas reserves in Cook Inlet to ensure we have reliable energy for generations to come. Some of these ideas include clean energy expansion and new transmission lines to allow for clean energy capture into our grid.

‍
I have also served as the President of Knik-Fairview Community Council for over 20 years and Chair of the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission. I would be honored to have your support. If re-elected, I promise to continue to work hard for you to ensure you have the best rates possible with long-term reliable energy.

Dear MEA members,
‍

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to express my interest in running for a position on the Board of Directors for the Local Electrical Association. As the Transportation Division Manager for a logistics company in Alaska, I believe I possess the necessary skills, experience, and passion to contribute significantly to the association's growth and development.
‍

I am deeply committed to the local community and its welfare. Over the years, the logistics company I work for has played a vital role in supporting various industries and businesses in the area. Through this experience, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by local businesses, particularly in relation to energy consumption and cost management. By serving on the Board of Directors, I aim to leverage this knowledge to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote sustainable and affordable electricity solutions for our community.
‍

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of MEA.
‍

Sincerely,

Darren J Kessler

Darren Kessler, a lifelong Alaskan, and passionate outdoorsman with over 20 years in the trucking industry. From diverse roles to Terminal Manager at Odyssey Logistics, I now proudly serve as the Transportation Manager for Odyssey Logistics in the state of Alaska, bringing a wealth of experience to the forefront of logistics.

I find it fascinating to work with the electric utility. I have extensive experience working with Alaska utilities, have successfully brought wind and battery systems online in interior Alaska, and own and operate businesses in the Susitna Valley. With almost 8 years of prior experience as the Environmental Officer for Golden Valley Electric Association in Fairbanks, I will bring this experience to my role on the MEA Board to make changes that benefit MEA members. I would be honored to serve my community by bringing my extensive knowledge and fresh ideas informed by my work with the power industry to MEA.

I know we are facing challenging times ahead with a dwindling gas supply from the Cook Inlet and need to find alternatives that support local jobs and economic stability and continue to protect our land and water.  My goal is to provide reliable power at an affordable cost with excellent member service.  I live at the end of the grid in Talkeetna and experience power outages regularly, but I understand the challenges the utility faces and want to bring solutions that make sense for all MEA members. I would appreciate your vote when you receive the ballot in April. Thank you!

My name is Henrik Wessel and I have lived in Alaska for over 35 years. I am a resident of Talkeetna, fishing lodge operator, developer and a bar and lodging owner (the Historic Fairview Inn). I have a degree in Natural Resources Management and a master's in Environmental Quality Science from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).  
 
I have an extensive background in energy. I served as the Environmental Officer for Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) for approximately 8 years. I was the main liaison between GVEA and regulatory agencies such as EPA, ADEC, and US Army Corps of Engineers, etc, obtaining permits and ensuring compliance with all our air and water permits to operate our power plants in Healy, North Pole, Fairbanks, and Delta.  I served on the Alaska Power Association's environmental regulations committee, representing most of the rail belt utilities for several years, overlooking state and federal regulations affecting Alaska utilities. The federal agencies often forget that Alaska is different from the lower 48, and we frequently had to provide comments that sometimes led to changes benefiting us.

‍
I was involved in the Eva Creek wind farm in Ferry (largest wind farm in Alaska) and the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Fairbanks, which, in 2003, was the largest successful battery built in the world.  I was involved in building a new power plant in North Pole and moving the old Chena 6 power plant from downtown Fairbanks to Delta in order to provide more reliable power for Delta and the missile defense.  I served as recycling director at UAF for 2 years and as the treasurer for Alaska Green Star for several years.

‍
I was born in Norway, and I still learn from their relevant experience on energy issues in a northern climate.

‍
I feel I can be a great asset to MEA's board and am eager to help bring affordable, reliable and innovative energy solutions to MEA.  I would appreciate your vote when you receive the ballot in April. Thank you!

Working with my local utility co-op is something I care about, because I want to make a positive impact not only for myself and my community but also for my children and their children.  I want to ensure there are good high paying jobs for generations to come without sacrificing our great state to do it.  As an MEA board member, I want to keep energy costs affordable and stabilize it over time by focusing on affordable sustainable energy solutions.

‍

I am a proud fifth generation Alaskan with a bush pilot as a father, so I have been able to grow up all over the state and enjoy it’s many wonders. I am currently a construction laborer, and have worked on the trans Alaskan pipeline in Valdez. I’m also a teacher at the laborers training school, so I am well aware of the importance of bringing up all those around me to empower everyone to have a rich and fulfilling life. Prior to this, I was a substitute teacher for all grade levels in the Mat-Su valley. I have a bachelor's degree in game simulation programming which requires a very broad background and a lot of problem-solving skills.

‍

On the weekends when I’m not volunteering I enjoy baking, building, and bike rides all with my children so they grow up knowing they can do whatever comes to mind whether that’s making something or going somewhere.

The Mat-Su valley is growing, outpacing any other part of the state. As co-owner of a construction and development company, I have a vested interest in encouraging growth, and in a way that builds infrastructure vital to business and job opportunity rather than just more “bedrooms”. As a father I have an even greater interest in making sure that growth is done responsibly, sustainably and environmentally sound so that not only do my children grow up in a happy, healthy and safe community but they will want to make that community their home when they start a family. I believe that serving on the Board of Directors for MEA will allow me to encourage the responsible infrastructure growth that is vital to the future of our community. There are many large decisions facing the board of MEA in the coming years, and those decisions must be made with diligence to balance the necessities of safe, reliable and affordable power.

Watch my candidate video at this link.

I am Maxwell Sumner and I was born and raised in the Mat-Su valley. I currently live in the Wasilla area with my wife Anita, 5-year-old daughter Blaire and 2-year-old son Blake. I am the President and co-owner of a small residential and light commercial construction company. Alaska is in my blood, and when I left the state for college (Gonzaga University 2009, BBA Finance, BS Economics) I always knew I would be back to enjoy the beauty, recreation and opportunity most of us hold so dear. I have served on the Board of Directors since 2014 and for two years as President of the Mat-Su Home Builders Association, a non-profit trade association dedicated to safe, affordable and energy efficient housing in the Mat-Su Valley. I applied for and was appointed to the vacant MEA Susitna East Director seat in January 2023. I attended training online and in Nashville, TN in 2023 and achieved the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate from the NRECA (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) that same year.