PRACTICAL   POWER

FOR  PEOPLE

AND  PLACE

I’m running for the San Miguel Power Board in 2026 because our district needs affordable, reliable, and resilient power- and leadership who will actively represent these priorities.

A woman in a red turtleneck sweater smiling and talking with people on a sidewalk in winter, with snow on the ground and a building in the background.

I'm Joanna Yonder, running for District 3 on the Board of Directors of the San Miguel Power Association.

Having lived in Norwood, on Hastings Mesa, and now in Rico, I understand this district and our unique communities. I’m running to support affordable, reliable power, sensible energy updates, and strong community representation for the working people who comprise our district.

My work has always centered on collaboration, and I’m committed to building bridges across our region- generationally, geographically, and through grounded connection.

Learn more about Joanna

JOANNA YONDER

San Miguel Power Association Board Candidate, District 3

Learn more about SMPA

My Priorities:

Four women, some elderly, engage in conversation outdoors on a sunny winter day, with one woman standing and the others sitting on a bench beside a brick building, trees, and snow.
A group of four deer standing on snow-covered ground near a large, twisted tree with dense foliage in a semi-arid landscape.
Four children standing on a snow-covered hill during sunset, wearing winter clothing and boots.
A person's hand holding an orange pen and writing in an open notebook on a cluttered desk with a computer keyboard, calculator, and documents.

In the rural interior West, our energy systems are under so much pressure.

-rising energy costs
-aging local infrastructure
-outside development like data centers and urban-serving infrastructure
-power outages & vulnerabilities in remote areas
-wildfire risk and drought
…these things all make it hard for our rural electric cooperatives to serve us.

That’s why I am focused on representing our communities.
We need an energy future that is:
-affordable for all
-updated to reliably serve our changing needs
-locally driven & thoughtful of the irreplaceable lands around us
-focused on commonsense energy independence for rural homes, farms & ranches
-resilient in the face of natural disasters.

Our communities deserve proactive representation to help us meet these challenges. I believe a better energy future is possible for us all. Thank you for considering me as your candidate to uphold these values on our rural electric board!

news & Recent Events

A promotional flyer for the SMPA candidate meet and greet event. The flyer features a smiling woman with curly red hair wearing a denim shirt in the lower left corner. The background showcases a scenic mountain landscape with a cloudy sky. The text in bold red and blue letters announces the event details: May 6, 4:30-8:30 PM at the Dark Sky Café in Norwood. It includes a call to action to drop in, enjoy free tacos, and learn about the SMPA District 3 board seat race. Additional information directs to more details at YonderForSMPA.com, emphasizing practical power for people and place.