Smith Hymes, Munk win Holy Cross Energy Board of Directors seats following annual meeting
Walking Mountains Science Center/Courtesy photo
Former Avon Mayor Sarah Smith Hymes outpaced local higher-education administrator Liz Qualman for the Northern District seat on the Holy Cross Energy board of directors, with the annual meeting concluding voting on Thursday.
Smith Hymes, who also serves on the board of the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District, garnered 2,307 votes in the board election for the member-owned electrical co-op of 45,000 customers that’s based in Glenwood Springs and provides power from Vail to Aspen.
Qualman, the Colorado Mountain College Director of Teacher Education and a first-time candidate for public office, received 1,969 votes for the district seat that includes the upper Eagle River Valley. The final margin was 54% of voters for Smith Hymes to 46% for Qualman.
Smith Hymes was a first-time candidate for the HCE board but has a long track record of public service in Eagle County, including Core Transit and the Climate Action Collaborative.
Smith Hymes, a resident of the Eagle River Valley for 36 years who has also been involved in education at multiple levels, replaces incumbent HCE board member Adam Quinton, who chose not to seek re-election.
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“I am eager to get to work for all Holy Cross members as the newest member of the board of directors,” Smith Hymes wrote in an email statement to the Vail Daily. “How electricity is sourced and delivered touches our lives in profound ways. It can contribute to a warming planet — or not. It can put a strain on household finances — or not. It can spark wildfires — or not. It can spur innovation — or not.
“I am grateful that the directors who precede me made choices that enabled the unprecedented combo of clean, reliable, safe and affordable power we enjoy today,” Smith Hymes added. “Planning and investing wisely to sustain momentum to ‘100 x 30’ without sacrificing HCE’s other pillars of service is the challenge of the incoming board. I’ll rely on input and expertise of veteran directors, staff, and fellow member, owners to determine what is in the best interest of all the communities we serve. Many thanks to Liz Qualman for recognizing Holy Cross as a critical community partner, and for raising awareness about its mission through her excellent campaign.”
Like many electricity providers across the country, HCE has seen rates go up during the current energy crisis and inflationary national economy, but it still maintains some of the lowest rates in the state while providing more than 90% renewably-generated power through most of the year so far. In March, HCE hit its 2030 goal of 100% renewable power for the entire month.
Incumbent board member Dave Munk comfortably held onto his Southern District seat with 2,469 votes (57.8%), beating out challengers Ryan Slack with 913 votes (21.4%) and Karen Page with 893 votes (20.9%).
Munk has served on the nonprofit HCE board since 2010.
“During my service, I have led board efforts to create our first energy efficiency goals and pushed for expanded communications and member engagement. I was a leading voice to establish Energy Assistance as a strategic goal, and the HCE staff enthusiastically launched programming to help members who struggle with their bills,” Munk wrote during his campaign.
“Despite low rates, member bills can be stressfully high,” Munk added. “Advanced energy efficiency and innovative financing programs are effective resources to empower our dedicated staff to make a meaningful difference in members’ lives.”
