Five new directors will sit on the BriarPatch Co-op Board after running in the most contested election the natural food store has ever held.

Former county supervisor Peter Van Zant, NCTV executive director Lew Sitzer, political campaign consultant Joey Jordan, current board member Debbie Plass, and architect of the new store Jeff Gold received the most votes, according to a release from the BriarPatch.

Each secured the 25 percent of the ballots required to be seated.

New Directors will be seated at the Board’s meeting on Monday, May 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the firehouse station classroom on Sierra College Drive in Grass Valley.

Fifteen BriarPatch owner-members stepped forward as candidates in the election for five open board seats. Terms span two years.

Of the 3,127 owner-members, 613 cast ballots more than any other election year in the store’s history.