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PREVIOUSLY: In Coast Central Credit Union’s First Competitive Board Election in Nine Years, a Slate of New Candidates Aims to Boost Member Involvement

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When a slate of new candidates launched a campaign for Coast Central Credit Union’s board of directors, they said they wanted to unseat a pair of incumbents and increase member involvement. They achieved one of those goals.

The credit union’s annual membership meeting was held last night, and attendees tell the Outpost that there were 60 to 70 members present, far more than have attended the meetings in recent years. One reader emailed to say, “It got reeeaaaal spicy lmao.”

So, increased member involvement? Check. (The Outpost is trying to get more information about the spiciness.)

Unfortunately for the “Members’ Voice” candidates, though, both incumbents — Eureka attorney Kelly Walsh and board Treasurer John Gladding — were re-elected to three-year terms, starting in March. 

The third incumbent, Robin Bailie, opted not to pursue re-election.

Who got her seat? That would be Rees Hughes, a former administrator at Humboldt State University, author of local hiking guides and one-third of the “Members’ Voice” slate. He, too, will serve a three-year term that commences with next month’s regular board meeting.

The credit union’s 76,000-odd members submitted their votes last month, and the results were announced at last night’s meeting.

Interviewed in December Walsh said, “Experience matters,” and he argued that the relative dearth of competition for seats on the board over the last decade was a sign of member satisfaction, reflecting Coast Central’s “good board policies and very good management and staff.”

This was the first contested election for the organization’s board of directors in nine years.