diff --git a/openstack_election/cmds/change_owners.py b/openstack_election/cmds/change_owners.py
index 1f9e285c..f226cd50 100644
--- a/openstack_election/cmds/change_owners.py
+++ b/openstack_election/cmds/change_owners.py
@@ -110,9 +110,11 @@ def usage(argv=sys.argv):
     parser.add_argument("-c", "--config", help="Path to script configuration")
     parser.add_argument("-i", "--ignore", help="Account Id numbers to skip",
                         action='append')
+    parser.add_argument("-l", "--legacy", help="Path to legacy projects file")
     parser.add_argument("-n", "--no-extra-atcs", help='Omit "extra ATCs"',
                         dest='no_extra_atcs', action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument("-o", "--outdir", help="Create an output directory")
+    parser.add_argument("-p", "--projects", help="Path to local projects file")
     parser.add_argument("-r", "--ref", help="Specify a Governance refname")
     parser.add_argument("-s", "--sieve", help="Add Gerrit query parameters")
 
diff --git a/openstack_election/owners.py b/openstack_election/owners.py
index f4630279..ea502a1f 100644
--- a/openstack_election/owners.py
+++ b/openstack_election/owners.py
@@ -122,6 +122,14 @@ def main(options):
     else:
         ignore = []
 
+    # Legacy projects file path
+    if options.legacy:
+        legacy_file = options.legacy
+    elif 'legacy' in config:
+        legacy_file = config['legacy']
+    else:
+        legacy_file = None
+
     # Whether to omit "extra ATCs"
     if options.no_extra_atcs:
         no_extra_atcs = options.no_extra_atcs
@@ -140,6 +148,14 @@ def main(options):
     if not os.path.isdir(outdir):
         os.makedirs(outdir)
 
+    # Projects file path
+    if options.projects:
+        projects_file = options.projects
+    elif 'projects' in config:
+        projects_file = config['projects']
+    else:
+        projects_file = None
+
     # Governance Git repository ref object for reference lists
     if options.ref:
         ref = options.ref
@@ -165,20 +181,22 @@ def main(options):
 
     # Retrieve the governance projects list, needs a Git refname as a
     # parameter
-    # TODO(fungi): make this a configurable option so that you can
-    # for example supply a custom project list for running elections
-    # in unofficial teams
-    gov_projects = utils.get_from_cgit('openstack/governance',
-                                       'reference/projects.yaml',
-                                       {'h': ref})
+    if projects_file:
+        gov_projects = utils.load_yaml(open(projects_file).read())
+    else:
+        gov_projects = utils.get_from_cgit('openstack/governance',
+                                           'reference/projects.yaml',
+                                           {'h': ref})
 
     # The set of retired or removed "legacy" projects from governance
     # are merged into the main dict if their retired-on date falls
     # later than the after parameter for the qualifying time period
-    # TODO(fungi): make this a configurable option
-    old_projects = utils.get_from_cgit('openstack/governance',
-                                       'reference/legacy.yaml',
-                                       {'h': ref})
+    if legacy_file:
+        old_projects = utils.load_yaml(open(legacy_file).read())
+    else:
+        old_projects = utils.get_from_cgit('openstack/governance',
+                                           'reference/legacy.yaml',
+                                           {'h': ref})
     for project in old_projects:
         for deliverable in old_projects[project]['deliverables']:
             retired = old_projects[project]['deliverables'][deliverable].get(
diff --git a/openstack_election/utils.py b/openstack_election/utils.py
index 8e12c454..eaa9b068 100644
--- a/openstack_election/utils.py
+++ b/openstack_election/utils.py
@@ -85,13 +85,19 @@ def query_gerrit(method, params={}):
     return decode_json(raw)
 
 
+def load_yaml(yaml_stream):
+    """Retrieve a file from the cgit interface"""
+
+    return yaml.safe_load(yaml_stream)
+
+
 def get_from_cgit(project, obj, params={}):
     """Retrieve a file from the cgit interface"""
 
     url = 'http://git.openstack.org/cgit/' + project + '/plain/' + obj
     raw = requester(url, params=params,
                     headers={'Accept': 'application/json'})
-    return yaml.safe_load(raw.text)
+    return load_yaml(raw.text)
 
 
 def get_series_data():
@@ -228,7 +234,7 @@ def _get_projects(tag=None):
             os.stat(cache_file).st_size < 100 or
             os.stat(cache_file).st_mtime + (7*24*3600) < time.time()):
         print("[+] Updating %s" % (cache_file))
-        data = yaml.safe_load(urlopen(url).read())
+        data = load_yaml(urlopen(url).read())
         pickle.dump(data, open(cache_file, "wb"), protocol=2)
 
     return pickle.load(open(cache_file, "rb"))