Anchorage Daily News

Ah Democracy, how do I love thee ... You are a messy, disheveled shirt; a fabric imbued with the tense threads of opposing passions and beliefs. But for all your rumpled glory, you, O Democracy, have one eclipsing mark: You can always be washed ...

Well folks, it's about time to wash the shirt. That's right, it's time for MEA elections.

(Why, God, oh why!)

Yep, I realize that you're probably thinking the above -- again and again. Perhaps you're even rolling your eyes, or have suddenly become very interested in your low-carb bran muffin. Maybe you've decided upon a six-week appointment with your favorite dentist.

Anything but an MEA election.

Now, I can't blame you for shuddering. After all, the word (or acronym) "MEA" does not conjure warm fuzzies or visions of grandma's cooking (unless your grandma burnt her vegetables and sued you twice a week ...).

This is, after all, the company that, in 2007, spent more than $160,000 of member-owner dollars on advertisements meant to influence the votes of the member-owners.

This is, after all, a cooperative that has forgotten how to cooperate with its member-owners and its fellow cooperatives.

A company that often acts more like a kingdom than a cooperative (forgetting that "cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions," from "7 Principles of a Cooperative").

Yep, that company. MEA.

But I have good news (don't worry, this is not a sales pitch by a bipolar prehominid): MEA is still a democracy. That's right. It is still a cooperative. And whether the management likes it or not, you -- the member-owner -- own the utility.

You decide the future.

Since you are an owner (not just a member -- but also an owner) it is incumbent upon you -- the owner -- to vote in the upcoming MEA elections.

Your vote is crucial to the future of the Valley. Sticking with the status quo is not an option (unless you'd like another year of manipulated ballots, wasted commercials and an us-versus-them approach to just about everything).

We must return MEA to the people of the Valley. We must elect board members who will view themselves as public servants -- not electric royalty.

We must elect candidates who will be accessible and open. We can no longer tolerate board members who sneer at those who do not have the correct initials after their names. Instead, we must elect people who will respect the member-owners, people who will listen to all people, no matter their beliefs or background.

We must elect candidates of integrity. In the wake of last year's corruption scandals, we must elect board members of the highest character. We must not settle. We must insist upon candidates who have a proven track record of honesty and decency.

And, finally, our candidates must believe in the future. For too long we have settled for board members who gloomily rant about the evils of other utilities. Board members who render blame when they should build bridges. Board members who view challenges as harrowing obstacles that must be faced alone, rather than seeing challenges as opportunities to create a better Alaska, and a better future.

In the next few weeks, you're going to be barraged with campaign notices (along with New Year's predictions, mind-numbing cold and three or four weight-loss fliers).

In the midst of all the New Year hubbub, I urge you to step back and remember one simple thing: It's time to wash the shirt.

It's time for a new direction at MEA. It's time for board members who are transparent, open and ethical; candidates who believe that you -- the member-owner -- should decide how to run the cooperative; candidates who will lead MEA into a bright, promising future.

Darin Markwardt is a board member of MEA Ratepayers Alliance.

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