2026 GVEA Election Results

JUNE 11, 2026 - This afternoon, four election judges from GVEA's Member Advisory Committee counted ballots and certified the election results for Districts 1 and 2 directors, as well as the results for the full membership vote on proposed amendments to GVEA's Bylaws. Incumbent director Dave Messier was reelected to District 1 and Philip Wight was elected to the District 2 seat. Additionally, the proposed amendments to GVEA's Bylaws passed and will take effect on June 23, 2026.

In order for an election to be valid, GVEA's Bylaws require a minimum of 10% of the total district membership to vote in director elections and a minimum of 3% of the full membership to vote on changes to the Bylaws. These percentage thresholds were surpassed in all three elections.

RESULTS:

District 1 Director Election:

There were two candidates on the ballot for District 1: Dave Messier (incumbent) and James Strickland. Of the 6,607 ballots that were mailed to District 1 members, 1,019 members voted - representing a 15.4% return.

• Dave Messier: 783 votes / 77%
• James Strickland: 236 votes / 23%
• Dave Messier received the most votes between the two candidates.
• Consistent with GVEA's Bylaws, Dave Messier has been duly elected by the members of District 1 to the Board of Directors.

District 2 Director Election:

There were two candidates on the ballot for District 2: Margaret Matheson and Philip Wight. Of the 6,471 ballots that were mailed to District 2 members, 892 members voted - representing a 13.7% return.

• Margaret Matheson: 212 votes / 24%
• Philip Wight: 680 votes / 76%
• Philip Wight received the most votes between the two candidates.
• Consistent with GVEA's Bylaws, Philip Wight has been duly elected by the members of District 2 to the Board of Directors.

Vote on General Revision to GVEA's Bylaws:

In addition to the director elections, nine proposed amendments to GVEA's Bylaws were presented to the full membership with the option to vote YES or NO on each proposed change. All nine Bylaw Amendments were approved. Of the 36,458 ballots that were mailed to all members, 3,498 members voted - representing a 9.6% return.

• Bylaw AMENDMENT 1 - Group was approved by 87% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 2 - Individual was approved by 92% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 3 - Individual was approved by 89% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 4 - Individual was approved by 85% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 5 - Group was approved by 89% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 6 - Individual was approved by 89% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 7 - Group was approved by 91% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 8 - Individual was approved by 94% of voters.
• Bylaw AMENDMENT 9 - Group was approved by 92% of voters.

GVEA extends our sincere appreciation to all of the candidates. We recognize the commitment required to run for a seat on the board of directors and we thank you for your willingness to serve the membership. Congratulations to Dave Messier and Philip Wight. They will be seated at the June 23, 2026, GVEA Board of Directors meeting.

Thank you to members in Districts 1 and 2 who took the time to vote for your GVEA Director, and all members who voted on the proposed amendments to GVEA's Bylaws.

Next year, seats on GVEA's board of directors for Districts 4 and 7, currently held by Gary Newman and Krista Zappone, will be up for election. For more information about GVEA's Board of Directors, visit our Board of Directors page.