Meet the Candidates:

At Large:

Terry Lautner  (Incumbent)

Candidate

Director At Large

Term: 2027

My wife, Cathy, and I own and operate a dairy farm in Elmwood Township, Leelanau County. We have three adult children and three grandchildren.

  • I am a member of the Michigan Milk Producers Association and a trustee on the Elmwood Township Board. In addition to serving on the Cherryland Electric Board, I am Cherryland’s representative on the Spartan Renewable Energy Board and a member of the Wolverine Power Cooperative Board.

I am running for re-election to ensure Cherryland remains financially strong and continues to focus on reliability and affordability. To improve the member experience, our financial strength allows us to utilize and embrace new technology, such as outage text messaging and advanced metering.

My experience in operating a successful farm business, which requires planning, budgeting, and allocating scarce resources to ensure financial success, translates well into the decision-making process of a co-op director.  I will do my best to keep Cherryland as one of the leading electric co-ops in the nation. Thank you for your continued support.

As part of the election process, Cherryland’s Policy requests candidates to disclose any financial campaign contributors in order to best inform member voting.

April 16: View disclosure here.

 

Grand Traverse/Kalkaska County

Gabe Schneider (Incumbent)

Candidate

Director for Grand Traverse/Kalkaska County

Term: 2027

I am a small business owner who founded Northern Strategies 360, a Traverse-City-based business. We provide government relations services to clients throughout the state. This includes serving as the Director of Government Relations for Munson Healthcare and Northwestern Michigan College, and supporting organizations such as the Women’s Resource Center, TART Trails and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. 

  • I currently serve as Vice Chair of the Cherryland Board and represent the co-op on the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, where I also serve as Vice Chair.  In addition, I am the Chair of the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority and Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, and serve on the Traverse Connect Government Relations Committee. 

I want to help the cooperative continue to focus on our mission of providing safe, reliable, affordable electricity to all of our member owners, while also maintaining a strong commitment to the environment and our community. As we build on our successes, such as keeping the lights on 99.99% of the time in 2023, we still have more work to do: Navigating cost pressures while maintaining affordability and reliability, as well as ensuring we stay competitive with our wages and benefits. I am seeking another term on the Board to make sure that Cherryland remains sustainable and strong into the future.

Having served on the Cherryland Board since 2017, in addition to my role on the statewide association of electric coops, and my years of business and leadership experience, I bring a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will continue to benefit the cooperative. 

As part of the election process, Cherryland’s Policy requests candidates to disclose any financial campaign contributors in order to best inform member voting.

April 16: View disclosure here.

 

At Large

David Schweitzer (Incumbent)

Candidate

Director At Large

Term: 2026

I am a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and have been in the investment industry for over thirty- five years. I have owned Schweitzer Capital Group, a wealth management firm for individuals and businesses, since 1996.

  • CFA Institute
  • Northwestern Michigan College Business Advisory Committee
  • Single MOMM Ministry
  • First Congregational Church

I have served on your board for six years, the last year and half as president. During this time, I have learned a great deal about the electric industry and formed important relationships with other cooperative leaders. Near term, your cooperative faces many challenges such as grid reliability, added demand from electric vehicles, cybersecurity, fast-changing technologies, regulatory requirements, and increasing costs. I am focused on addressing these issues to ensure that we continue to provide the safe, affordable, and reliable electricity that you have come to depend on for your homes and businesses.

COVID-19 was a challenging period for your co-op. We completed the search for your new CEO and careful financial management was critical with the many issues that we faced during that time. In fact, we are still dealing with the ongoing effects of COVID-19 as it relates to financial management, supply chain issues, and steep price increases. As your director and as a financial analyst, it is my duty to make sure we continue to make prudent financial decisions as we proactively face new opportunities and challenges. Cherryland is best in class as evidenced by its excellent financial condition, the capital credits you receive, our healthy equity position, and our top-notch employees. I intend to work with the other board members to keep it that way. I look forward to serving you for another term and ask for your vote. Please visit my website at www.votedaveschweitzer.com  for a more detailed discussion on these and other issues. Thank you.

As part of the election process, Cherryland’s Policy requests candidates to disclose any financial campaign contributors in order to best inform member voting.

Mr. Schweitzer reported his campaign as self-funded.

April 15: View disclosure here.

Leelanau County:

Tom Van Pelt (Incumbent)

Candidate

Leelanau County

Term: 2026

I own and operate our family fruit farm near Northport (I am 3rd generation, with 4th and 5th generations also living and working on the farm).  In addition, I am a Captain with Leelanau Township Emergency Services

  • I am actively involved with the following organizations:
    • Leelanau Township Emergency Services
    • Leelanau Energy
    • Michigan’s Representative on:
      • Region 4 NRECA Nominating Committee
      • Region 4 NRECA Resolutions Committee

I believe everyone should be involved within their community.

Electricity is a commodity that is needed and used by everyone.  RELIABILITY and AFFORDABILITY is the best way to impact all the members and visitors of our beautiful area.

In addition to my involvement with the Fire and Rescue, serving on the Cherryland Electric Board of Directors is another way to “give back”.

Currently I am Treasurer of the Board of Cherryland Electric Cooperative.  I also represent Cherryland on the Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative Board of Directors.

I am extremely proud that Cherryland is consider an Industry Leader with it’s:

  • 64% carbon free portfolio
  • Outage texting
  • Smart metering

Through my involvement with Cherryland, I have earned a Board Leadership Certificate from NRECA (the National organization representing electric cooperatives).

My experience as Leelanau County Board of Commissioners Chairman for 4 years combined with my 2 college degrees, organizational training I have received through the Fire service and my experience as an independent business owner have given me the skills to understand Budgets, Policies and proper Procedures.

I feel I am well suited to continue to represent the Members of Cherryland on their Board of Directors.

I Thank you very much for your consideration.

As part of the election process, Cherryland’s Policy requests candidates to disclose any financial campaign contributors in order to best inform member voting.

Mr. Van Pelt reported his campaign as self-funded.

April 15: View disclosure here.