// FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE //
Cloverland Electric Cooperative announced results of the director elections at its Annual Meeting of the Members June 4. Cloverland is a democratically controlled, not-for-profit electric co-op governed by nine directors elected by and from the members of their respective districts to serve a three-year term. One seat per district is up for election each year. The election process is managed by an independent third-party, Survey & Ballot Systems of Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Members had the option to vote electronically or by mail-in ballot. Ballots mailed April 27 and voting concluded May 29. Ballots did not mail in districts A and C since both candidates were unopposed.
District A Results: Willie LaLonde (St. Ignace) ran unopposed and was reelected.
District B Results: John Sawruk (Sault Ste. Marie) was reelected, receiving 1,168 ballots and earning 57.8% of the vote. Heidi Witucki (Sault Ste. Marie) received 853 ballots, with 42.2% of the vote.
District C Results: John Stapleton (Garden Peninsula) ran unopposed and was elected.
Voter percentage in the 2026 election was 18.14%, with 1,617 mail-in ballots and 442 electronic ballots submitted by 2,059 cooperative members in District B.
“We appreciate the participation and engagement of our members in this year’s board election process. Cloverland’s Board of Directors plays an important role in guiding the cooperative’s future, and we look forward to continuing our work together to provide safe, reliable, and affordable service to the communities we serve,” stated Cloverland’s President and CEO, Mike Heise.
Cloverland Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. With hydropower making up nearly half its fuel mix, the cooperative energizes 43,000 meters across 4,000 miles of power line for more than 34,500 residential and business members in Chippewa, Delta, Mackinac, Luce and Schoolcraft counties.
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Contact: communications@cloverland.com