News > Meet Your 2020 Director Candidates

Meet Your 2020 Director Candidates

As a member-consumer of Stearns Electric, you are also an owner of the Cooperative. You have a voice in the operations of the organization through the election process. Elected by members, the nine Directors determine the policies and procedures of the Cooperative.

These elected Directors are members of the Cooperative themselves. These representatives are your neighbors and are directly affected by the decisions that are made to carry out the business of the Cooperative. Their decisions are made in the best interest of our members and the Cooperative.

DISTRICT 1

Timothy Anway

Timothy Anway of Randall is retired and has been a member of the Cooperative for nine years. He formerly served as a council member on the Alden, Iowa City Council and as a Board member for the Alden Community School.

If elected, he believes the goal of the Cooperative should be to stay current on updating any changes made to the Cooperative and relaying that information to the members. He would like to look at options for the Cooperative to branch out to better serve our member-consumers. He would love the opportunity to bring new ideas and an understanding of what it means to be part of the Board for the people and for the Cooperative.

Greg Blaine (Incumbent)

Greg Blaine of Little Falls is a farmer and Morrison County Commissioner for District 5. He has been a member of the Cooperative for 30 years and has served two terms on the Board of Directors. He previously served as Minnesota State Representative for District 12B and has several years of experience serving on local committees and boards including South Country Health Alliance, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Gordon Rosenmeier Center of State/Local Government, Region V Development Commission, and Minnesota Milk Producers Association. He participates in the Cooperative’s EnergyWise® Stored Water, Dual Fuel and Generator Backup programs.

If re-elected, Blaine believes the goal of the Cooperative should be to continue providing safe, competitively priced and reliable power to members for their homes, farms and businesses. He believes the Cooperative should maintain a strong fiscal position, continue to return Capital Credits in a timely manner, and position employees to meet members in a changing future landscape.

DISTRICT 7

Lonnie Iverson (Incumbent)

Lawrence “Lonnie” Iverson of Osakis is a local farmer and custodian. He has been a member of the Cooperative for 50 years and has served three terms on the Board of Directors. Iverson served as the president and deacon trustee for Salem Lutheran Church for 60 years. He participates in the Cooperative’s EnergyWise® Dual Fuel program.If re-elected, Iverson believes the Cooperative should continue running as a business that serves all of its members. If elected, he hopes to help find ways to establish and add new growth to the Cooperative.

DISTRICT 8

Earl Chesnik

Earl Chesnik of Sauk Centre is retired and has been a member of the Cooperative for 23 years. He has held leadership roles in several organizations, including the South Dakota Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractor’s Association, Redfield, South Dakota Lions Club, Redfield Chamber of Commerce, and South Dakota Lions Club. Chesnik is currently a member of the Cooperative’s Member Engagement Group and participates in the EnergyWise® Cycled Air Conditioning Program.

If elected, he believes the goal of the Cooperative should be to help keep the cost of energy down by promoting its EnergyWise® programs. Chesnik also believes in promoting alternative energy sources in place of fossil fuels when they are economically feasible.

Eric Peterson

Eric Peterson of Grey Eagle is the co-owner of Centre Powersports and Recreation and has been a member of the Cooperative for 19 years. He previously worked at Stearns Electric in college and spent 18 years in the utility industry before becoming a business owner. He has served as a church trustee and youth group leader, as well as a Board member for Little Birch Lake. He participates in the Cooperative’s EnergyWise® Storage Heating, Cycled Air Conditioning and Stored Water Heating programs, and previously served on the Member Engagement Group.

If elected, he believes the goal of the Cooperative should be to maintain competitive rates. He also believes in completing the tree trimming project and educating members on helping to clear Right-of-Way. Peterson would like to look at long range plant upgrades for the Cooperative and be more active working with other utilities to complete future projects.

You can find more information and watch the Director candidate videos on the Annual Meeting event page.