The Ridgerunner

MORE LIGHT NEEDED

Members of Pedernales Electric Cooperative who attended the annual meeting in Johnson City last June got a further lesson in just how easy it is to control an election. Although there were candidates nominated from the floor and many customer complaints voiced during the open discussion session, the outcome of the election had been decided far in advance of the actual meeting.

A major change in the way board members are elected is needed since the current system prevents any serious challenges to the present board and creates a climate in which accountability is unlikely. As it stands today, a nominating committee is appointed by the board, ballots are mailed to the over 200,000 customers bearing only that committee’s nominations. There is no chance for a significant challenge because by the time of the annual meeting, ballots have been mailed in, counted by company representatives, and the election of board members is already decided. These rules should be changed so that any qualified candidate can be listed on the ballot mailed to members.

As Cooperative members, we are not free to change our service because we are dealing with a monopoly not subject to any kind of government regulation. PEC’s president has since said the board will “consider a change in election procedure.” Such a change will have to be meaningful enough to allow challengers to have a reasonable chance to be elected