A Down-To-Earth Perspective

By Craig Reed

When Faye Stewart was contacted by former board member Hugh Buermann about a soon-to-be-vacant Lane Electric Cooperative board position, he was asked if he knew anybody who would be interested.

His answer was, “Let me think about it.”

When he got back to Hugh, Faye had decided he was interested. “I’d like to believe my experience as a (Lane County) commissioner, my experience in public works, and my extensive leadership training through the Ford Family Foundation would make me a positive addition to the Lane Electric board,” Faye says.

So the 58-year-old Cottage Grove resident applied for the position. Nobody else did. In May, Faye became an official member of the board, representing the Row River district.

Lane Electric board director Ingrid Kessler met Faye during his commissioner years and was impressed by his work for the county.

“I definitely encouraged him to run (for the board),” Ingrid says. “I knew he’d be a great advocate for Lane Electric. He has a combination of outstanding technical skill, tremendous experience, and the ability to work very well with people. That’s an unbeatable combination.”

Director Chris Seubert says Faye’s deep family roots in Lane County and his connection to many people are beneficial to the co-op’s board.

“He cares about his community and tries to make the world a better place,” Chris says.

Faye brings a variety of local experiences and knowledge to the board. He was born in Eugene and is the fifth generation of his family to reside in Cottage Grove and 6th generation in Lane County.

Faye and Tami, his wife of 32 years, raised another generation in the county. They have 4 grown children: Gracie, Fayth, Joshua, and Hope.

As a young man, Faye partnered with his father, Bruce, in owning and operating a small logging and excavating business. When Bruce tried to get an answer from a county commissioner regarding a land use project and received no response, Faye was inspired to run for a commissioner position. He was also inspired by his Uncle Loran “Stub” Stewart who served in the Oregon Legislature and was “very active in Salem politics,” Faye says.

“Why take the time to go up and down the freeway to Salem to serve?” he says of deciding to run for a vacant Lane County commissioner position.

He won.

“It’s important to be involved, to help guide in order to improve people’s lives,” he says.

Faye served for 12 years and then stepped down.

“I accomplished most everything I wanted to,” he says. “I completed some neat projects. I served a period of time, and then it was time to allow the next person with energy and fresh ideas to be elected.”

Faye’s next stop was in 2017 at the Cottage Grove City Hall. He was named the public works and community development director. A year ago, the city position was split, and Faye now directs public works only. He manages the water, sewage, and storm operations, and he oversees $25 million to $30 million of the city’s revenue.

Faye says he plans to use his business and community service experiences “to make the best decisions possible so the Lane Electric members can count on their electrical service being the best it can be and affordable.”

Besides being a longtime Lane Electric member, Faye previously served 3 years on the co-op’s scholarship committee and worked with co-op staff and lineworkers during the construction of his home several years ago. He’s also dealt with some power outages at his home.

“The co-op is very member-focused,” he says. “The employees are hard workers who do their best to keep the power flowing. All of my experiences with them have been excellent.”

Faye says the co-op faces future difficult decisions regarding the purchase of power from the Bonneville Power Administration, the installation of advanced metering infrastructure and upgraded meters, and strengthening the co-op against natural disasters such as storms and wildfires.

“The question is how can we strengthen the co-op so there is less impact to the members and less financial impact to the co-op,” he says.

Ingrid and Chris are pleased to have Faye on board to help with those decisions.

“He’s already been an enormous asset to us,” Ingrid says. “He’s got a common-sense and down-to-earth perspective,” Chris says.