Three Leelanau residents are seeking election to two at-large seats on the board of Cherryland Electric Cooperative board of directors.
And one candidate’s campaign is drawing criticism with questions about a possible conflict of interest.
James Dyer, former Northport Village manager and current Leelanau County administrator; former county commissioner Melinda C. Lautner of Cedar and Brian Fenlon of Leland Township are seeking election to a two-year term ending in 2028.
Also seeking reelection is Long Lake Township resident Dean Adams.
And while it’s been a quiet campaign, one county resident has questioned Dyer’s candidacy and whether sitting on the board would conflict with his position in county government.
“Last year the County GOP helped derail an ill-conceived and potentially expensive boondoggle pushed by the Energy Futures Task Force on the Board of Commissioners,” wrote Jeanne Houle of Suttons Bay in a letter to the editor. “Now they want to force Cherryland Electric to go completely green and renewable, think solar and wind energy.
“One might think a GOP controlled county board would stop that in its tracks, but when the county administrator is running to get elected to the Cherryland Board, that raises a big question,” Houle alleged.
When questioned by the Enterprise, Dyer responded: “My candidacy is unrelated to politics…When I was working in Marshall, I was on the utility board there, so I know about setting rates … “My decisions will be based on sustainability — no politics.”
Houle questioned where Dyer’s loyalties will land if he is on the Cherryland board and serving as county administrator.
“Jim Dyer needs to have one client loyalty… the taxpayers of Leelanau County.”
This is not the first time an apparent conflict of interest has surfaced dealing with the Cherryland board and county board.
Clean energy advocates questioned whether Lautner’s involvement serving on the board of directors for both Wolverine Power and Cherryland Electric Cooperative, which powers the government center campus.
Former commissioner Lautner served on the board of Clean energy advocates in Leelanau County, and Democrats, wonder whether Commissioner Lautner has a conflict of interest when it comes to the Energy Futures Task Force.
“There’s no conflict. If there were, it would have been going on a long time,” board Chairman Steve Yoder said, referring to Lautner holding seat on both boards.
Online voting opens on May 1. To vote through SmartHub, access your online ballot by logging into your account via our website or the mobile app, select the “Vote Now” button on the screen and follow the instructions given on the board election website.
If you do not wish to use SmartHub, go to the board election website, enter your ballot I.D. and election passcode printed on the back of your May issue of Michigan Country Lines (see example) or in the email from SBS, and follow the instructions given on the board election website. Your web browser’s pop-up blockers may need to be disabled to access the website.
To be counted, online ballots must be cast by noon, June 11, 2025. For technical support (available Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EDT, excluding holidays), please call 952-9742339 or email support@directvote. net. and one Benzie/ Manistee/Wexford County director in the race for the board of Cherryland Rural Electric Cooperative.
