Holy Cross Energy Targets Vail Valley Members for Board Election

The obvious assumption is that a rural electric cooperative board election is a sleepy affair, a formality where incumbents nod and members check boxes. That’s the narrative Holy Cross Energy is trying to dismantle. With voter turnout historically low, the utility is betting that two specific candidates — Liz Qualman and Sarah Smith Hymes — can turn a dormant civic duty into a genuine debate about energy, infrastructure, and who actually holds the reins in the valley.

The stakes aren’t just about who sits on the board; they’re about who defines the next decade of power for a region stretching from Vail to Aspen.

"The question is whether members realize they’re in the midst of election season," Jenna Weatherred, Holy Cross Vice President of Member & Community Relations, noted. "If they pay the co-op for power, they’re a member-owner with voting privileges."

That’s the hook. Most folks around here don’t think about their voting rights every time a bill arrives. But starting May 13, the cooperative is pushing hard to remind them. Online voting runs through June 9, with mail-in ballots arriving that same day. For those who prefer a face-to-face vote, there’s an in-person session on June 11 at 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott. It’s a specific, tangible opportunity for locals to influence a utility that manages billions in assets.

The Northern District seat, covering everything from East Vail to the eastern end of Glenwood Canyon; is the flashpoint. Two candidates are vying for it: Liz Qualman of Edwards and Sarah Smith Hymes of Avon. They’re not just running for a stipend. Board members earn $1,000 a month plus travel expenses. It’s not a fortune, but it’s compensation for people who are already working full-time jobs outside the co-op.

Qualman, the Colorado Mountain College Director of Teacher Education, says her background in managing complex budgets across 11 campuses prepares her for the financial intricacies of the board. But her pitch is less about spreadsheets and more about the cooperative’s identity.

"So that’s where my passion really took off was in learning more about Holy Cross Energy, the member-owned cooperative," Qualman said. "I get really excited … about how it’s transitioned over the years and that (Holy Cross President and CEO) Bryan Hannegan … was just quoted in an article saying that we’re consistently at 85% renewable energy."

She’s leveraging the co-op’s green reputation. In a valley obsessed with sustainability, positioning the board as the guardian of that 85% renewable metric is a smart play. She’s also framing her run as a natural extension of her career.

"I’m interested in continuing to support infrastructure in our community in a different way than education because I’ve done that for a very long time and am very proud of how we have diversified the teaching workforce," she said.

It’s a clean pivot. From educating teachers to educating the board on infrastructure needs. It’s a narrative that suggests she’s not an outsider looking in, but a local leader who’s been building "human infrastructure" since moving to Eagle County in 1994.

The counter-narrative, of course, is that many members will still sleep through this election. The Southern District has three candidates for one seat - Dave Munk, Karen Page, and Ryan Slack. suggesting a more competitive, perhaps more contentious, race. But the Northern District is a two-horse race. That makes Qualman and Hymes the only ones who need to worry about the other.

The data supports that view. Low participation means a small, organized group can decide the outcome. The question is whether the average member in Avon or Edwards cares enough to log in, read the bios, and cast a ballot before June 9.

As Weatherred put it, the cooperative is waiting for members to step up. "Check out the Holy Cross Energy election section on its website for full online voting details, as well as candidate bios," she said.

It’s not a secret. It’s just buried under the daily grind of paying the bill. Qualman hopes that by the time the ballots are counted, members will see the board not as a distant administrative body, but as the direct link between their wallet and the future of the grid.

"I’ve done that for a very long time," Qualman said, referring to her work in education. "And I’m very proud of how we have diversified the teaching workforce."

She’s applying that same pride to the energy sector. Whether the neighbors notice is the real question. But the candidates are ready.