San Miguel Power Association
If you pay a San Miguel Power Association (SMPA) bill, you’re a member of a rural electric cooperative, a nonprofit utility owned by the people it serves. That means you have a vote.
Elect the board that decides your energy costs, power sources, and community’s energy future. With turnout typically just 8–13%, your vote can make a real impact.
Mark your calendar: Election Day is June 4, 2026.
How to Vote:
- Email Ballot: District #3 and #6 members with an email on file can opt into a paperless ballot via a Voter Intent Survey sent in late April. To ensure delivery, add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender. You can also access your e-ballot through your SmartHub app.
- Paper Ballot: Paper ballots arrive by mail in mid-May and must be received by close of business June 3, 2026. Return by mail or drop off at either SMPA office in Ridgway (720 N. Railroad St.) or Nucla (170 W. 10th Ave).
- In Person: Vote at the Nucla office on June 4, 2026 between 4:30–5:30 PM, just before the Annual Meeting.
Your ballot signature must match the name on the account.
Meet Our Candidates
These responses were written by the candidates and have not been edited.
Joanna Yonder
Joanna's Bio
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 our district as a collection of many communities, each with unique needs. 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.
Why are you proud to be a member of SMPA?
In a nation that can feel divided, RECs are nonpartisan, locally-driven, and deeply rural- and they’ve been working to successfully and reliably bring critical infrastructure to rural homes, farms, and ranches since the 1930s! The San Miguel Power Association serves a huge range of different user needs in a dynamic landscape that includes rugged mountain terrain, high ranchland and forest areas, and sagebrush plains. It’s a power cooperative really oriented to this Four Corners Western landscape, and it always has been.
What role can SMPA play in play in energy and community resiliency?
Co-ops are situated uniquely to respond to their local needs. At a time when rural areas are under a lot of pressure, our local REC is the most practical way to support reliable, affordable, and responsible energy that truly serves our communities. Particularly here in the mountain interior West, we’re facing a lot of change as our communities grow, as infrastructure ages, and as drought hits hard. We rely on our REC to help us meet those challenges.
How do you like to spend time outside?
I’m a climber of rock and ice, a hunter and forager, a grower of food, a beekeeper, and a stoked but not-that-badass skiier and mountain biker. I love to be outside for any kind of long ramble and to nerd out about botany, deep history, geology, astronomy, and birds, too!
Want to Canvas with Joanna?
Join Joanna for a canvass on the following dates:
- April 25
- April 26
Email Leda at leda@powactionfund to sign up.
