2026 SMPA Election Results- Joanna Yonder announced as district 3 director
San Miguel Power Association Annual Meeting and Director Election, June 4th, 2026, Nucla, Colorado-
Director District 3, including Rico, Dunton, Norwood, Placerville, and Sawpit, votes tally announced, 7:15pm.
Challenger Joanna Yonder- Rico- 227
Incumbent David Alexander- Norwood- 178
To the wonderful folks of District 3,
Last night, standing above the San Miguel River in Nucla after the election results were announced, I felt immense gratitude for this place and the people who call it home.
To all who voted, whether it was your first SMPA ballot or one of many, thank you. And thank you to everyone who knocked on doors, talked to neighbors, hosted yard signs, or helped spread the word. This campaign was built through community effort and I’m deeply honored by your support.
I want to express my profound respect to the preceding director for his years of leadership and service to our communities. I hope to cultivate collaboration with Mr. Alexander and the many leaders who have seen our region through past decades.
Today, we face pivotal and complicated times for energy on the Western Slope. This is my time to buckle down, to do my best to represent us all. Although our communities span mountains, mesas, ranchlands, and remote valleys, we are connected by shared infrastructure, shared responsibility, and a shared future. It is my goal to serve all of District 3 with thoughtfulness, collaboration, and courage.
With deep gratitude,
Joanna Yonder
PRACTICAL POWER
FOR PEOPLE
AND PLACE
I’m running for the San Miguel Power Board in 2026 because our district needs affordable, reliable, and resilient power- and leadership who will actively represent these priorities.
I'm Joanna Yonder, running for District 3 on the Board of Directors of the San Miguel Power Association.
Having lived in Norwood, on Hastings Mesa, and now in Rico, I understand this district and our unique communities. I’m running to support affordable, reliable power, sensible energy updates, and strong community representation for the working people who comprise our district.
My work has always centered on collaboration, and I’m committed to building bridges across our region- generationally, geographically, and through grounded connection.
JOANNA YONDER
San Miguel Power Association Board Candidate, District 3
My Priorities:
In the rural interior West, our energy systems are under so much pressure.
-rising energy costs
-aging local infrastructure
-outside development like data centers and urban-serving infrastructure
-power outages & vulnerabilities in remote areas
-wildfire risk and drought
…these things all make it hard for our rural electric cooperatives to serve us.
That’s why I am focused on representing our communities.
We need an energy future that is:
-affordable for all
-updated to reliably serve our changing needs
-locally driven & thoughtful of the irreplaceable lands around us
-focused on commonsense energy independence for rural homes, farms & ranches
-resilient in the face of natural disasters.
Our communities deserve proactive representation to help us meet these challenges. I believe a better energy future is possible for us all. Thank you for considering me as your candidate to uphold these values on our rural electric board!
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