Thank you to all members who voted in the 2021 board election

Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative announced the results of its 2021 board election at the co-op’s 83rd Annual Meeting June 11. Three incumbent directors were re-elected in Co-op Districts 7, 8 and 9.

The election was conducted by mail and web ballot by an independent election contractor. Election results were tabulated from ballots received on or before June 1, 2021. Voter participation was 16.6%, with 1,074 ballots received (903 paper and 171 online) from 6,455 eligible voters.

In Co-op District 7, incumbent Jerry Okonek of Spooner ran unopposed and was re-elected with 450 votes. District 7 includes Webb Lake, Scott, Jackson, Chicog, Casey and Rusk townships.

In Co-op District 8, incumbent Chuck Brookshaw of Webster ran unopposed and was re-elected with 315 votes. District 8 includes Swiss, Oakland, Union, Meenon and Sand Lake townships.

In Co-op District 9, incumbent Tom Swenson of Webster ran unopposed and was re-elected with 283 votes. District 9 includes Marshland, Lincoln, Grantsburg, Wood River, Daniels, Siren, Anderson and Trade Lake townships.

Okonek, Brookshaw and Swenson will serve three-year terms on the co-op board, beginning with the June 28 regular board meeting. Directors meet monthly to make policy and budget decisions. They are elected by members and each represents a district in the co-op’s service territory. Overall, nine co-op directors serve on the Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative board.

Other Polk-Burnett board directors are: Cindy Thorman, Osceola, District 1; Mike Morris, Luck, District 2; Ed Gullickson, Amery, District 3; Joe Metro, Balsam Lake, District 4; Jeff Traynor, Balsam Lake, District 5; and Wilfred Owens, Frederic, District 6.

"Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative is unique because we are owned and governed by the members we serve. Co-op directors are local members who live and work here. They understand and listen to our local community. Local board governance is one of the greatest advantages of our co-op business model,” said General Manager Steve Stroshane.

Polk-Burnett is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative that provides reliable electricity with efficiency and extraordinary service to 20,000+ homes, farms and businesses across 2,000 square miles. 

Read more about the co-op board.