Voters Pick OPPD, MUD Board Members
Omaha voters chose board members for the Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District as OPPD's CEO announced plans to resign.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Utilities
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Voters selected board members for the Omaha Public Power District and the Metropolitan Utilities District on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2026. Separately, OPPD President and CEO Javier Fernandez announced he will resign, effective at the end of the year.
Why it matters
The board seats determine oversight of two major Omaha-area utilities at a time of leadership transition at OPPD. The CEO change puts the board's choice of an interim leader in focus for customers and ratepayers.
Kohen won OPPD Subdivision 1 with 20,880 votes (61%) to Mapes' 13,563 (39%), and Blood took Subdivision 3 with 17,456 votes (53%). The final outcome of the interim CEO selection on Nov. 19 remains unknown.
The players
Javier Fernandez
Fernandez is the president and CEO of the Omaha Public Power District, who announced he will resign at the end of 2026.
Troy Via
Via is the chief operating officer of the Omaha Public Power District and is recommended to serve as its interim CEO.
Omaha Public Power District
The Omaha Public Power District is a public utility serving the Omaha area, governed by an elected board of directors.
Metropolitan Utilities District
The Metropolitan Utilities District is a public utility providing water service in the Omaha metropolitan area, governed by an elected board.
The details
OPPD board members serve six-year terms, and voters cast ballots on Election Day alongside national and state-level offices. Troy Via, the utility's chief operating officer, is recommended to serve as interim CEO while Fernandez steps down at year's end.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2026: Voters cast ballots for OPPD and MUD board seats.
End of 2026: Javier Fernandez steps down as OPPD president and CEO.
Nov. 19, 2026: OPPD board scheduled to vote on interim CEO appointment.
Roadmap
Both OPPD and MUD are governed by elected boards under Nebraska's public power and water district structure, which places utility oversight directly with local voters. The leadership change at OPPD comes as those elected boards take on the task of selecting its next chief executive.
Omaha Public Power District and Metropolitan Utilities District customers will be served by the newly elected board members, who set policy for these utilities. The interim CEO decision on Nov. 19 will shape leadership at OPPD while the search for a permanent successor proceeds.
The takeaway
Voters directly shape utility governance through these elections, so checking which board candidates are on the ballot in your subdivision is a practical step. The Nov. 19 interim CEO vote is the next point where OPPD leadership changes take concrete form.
What happens next
The OPPD board is scheduled to vote on the interim CEO appointment on Nov. 19, 2026, with Troy Via recommended for the role.
Further reading
For more on local power and water providers, see Utilities coverage for the Omaha area.
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