2026 SWCE board of director nominees

The 2026 Nominating Committee has selected the following nominees for the Steele-Waseca Cooperative Electric board of directors. Committee members include: Matt LaCanne, Faribault; Daniel/Stacy Maas, Faribault; Casey/Natalie Roeker, New Richland; Bert Wiersma, Ellendale; Ralph/Leann Miller, Owatonna; Douglas Starks, Owatonna; Lonna Selkirk, Faribault, and Bruce Rumpza, Blooming Prairie. Steele-Waseca members will be receiving mail-in ballots the week of April 27. They need to be received in Survey & Ballot Systems post office box by 10 a.m., Friday, May 29, in order to be counted. Results of the mail-in ballot election of directors will be announced at Steele-Waseca’s 90th annual meeting, Tuesday, June 2, at the co-op’s headquarters, 2411 West Bridge Street in Owatonna. 1055316 #swceTRUST

Daniel J. Maas lives in rural Faribault with his wife of 39 years, Stacy. They have four children and nine grandchildren. Daniel owns his own business and has been in the carpentry and home building industry for 39 years. He’s a lifelong member of Christ the King Church in Medford and has served on the church board for six years. Daniel has been a Knights of Columbus member for 39 years and held various officer positions including Grand Knight for two years and currently serves as co-chair director of the Medford Resurrection Cemetery. “My family and I have been on Steele Waseca co-op power for 38 years,” wrote Daniel. “I have been interested in the member owned co-op business model how we produce and distribute needed power to the members. In my past I have taken time to visit Great River Energy power production sites in North Dakota.” Adding, “We continue to see changes in power demand and methods of producing power. I would like to be part of the planning process to continue to provide affordable and reliable electricity to our members.” As for what he would bring to the board if elected, “I feel that I can bring good listening skills, common sense and reasoning to the Board,” wrote Daniel. He stated that owning his own business will allow him “to attend all meetings required both at and away from the board table.” Daniel noted decisions for the future of Steele-Waseca should be made with information that is well researched, sensible, and good for the future of the co-op and its members. “I would appreciate your vote to be the next director for District 7,” stated Daniel. 

Ronald D. Sommers, incumbent, is secretary/treasurer of SWCE’s board of directors. He and his wife, Ruth, live on the farm where he grew up in Northfield Township. They have a daughter and son, both married and each with two children. Ronald graduated from the University of Minnesota with  bachelors and masters degrees in agriculture. His career included over 20 years as an agricultural educator in southern Minnesota, and nearly 20 years with Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., where he served as sales accounting manager for their Central Division and later sales coordinator for Minnesota. He has been honored as Rice County 4-H Alumnus of the Year, Rice County Soil Conservationist of the Year, and received the Honorary Minnesota and Honorary American FFA Degrees. In 2022, Ronald was inducted into the Minnesota FFA Hall of Fame. He believes in the cooperative business model and is familiar with the vital role cooperatives played in bringing modern electric power to rural areas. “Today our industry faces new challenges as we address changing technology, environmental concerns and increasing costs,” wrote Ronald. “I would like to be part of planning our cooperative’s future by continuing to serve on the SWCE board of directors.”   

Scott J. Carlson, incumbent, and his wife, Lisa, live in rural Faribault. They have two grown children, Grant and Grace. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in meteorology and currently serves as a weather observer, providing data to the Minnesota State Climate Office. He is a retired air traffic controller and has lived in District 9 for the past 26 years. Scott wrote he has enjoyed his first three years on the SWCE board, “and is honored to work alongside management and his fellow board members to help ensure a reliable safe energy system while maintaining the lowest possible rates for cooperative members.”