An inside look

MLEC Board Nomination and Election Process

 

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative's district membership meetings are held each October to elect representation on the Board of Directors and give members the opportunity to learn more about the Cooperative. In addition to the business at hand, poster contest winners and others are recognized during the meetings. Also, some lucky members receive door prizes.

Another membership meeting event is the election of qualified members to represent their area on the MLEC Board of Directors. Any MLEC member desiring to run for an open position on the MLEC Board must meet specified qualifications and declare their candidacy by the set filing deadline of July 15. See Qualifications.  

 

Elections will be held for expiring Board of Director terms in the following counties in 2009: Hickman (Position A), Houston, Humphreys, and Lewis. Each term is for four years. Incumbents include Wayne Qualls (Position A), Hickman County; Sam Fussell, Houston County; Larry Mayberry, Humphreys County; and Bill Webb, Lewis County.

Additionally, a special election will be held in District I (Hickman County) to fill the remaining term (one year) of Ralph Fly (Position B), who recently retired. Persons completing a Declaration form in District I will need to designate whether they are a candidate for Position A or B.

 

The names of all qualified candidates will be printed in the September or October issue of The Tennessee Magazine, along with the official meeting notices.

 

Voting takes place at district membership meetings in October. A ballot containing the names of all qualified candidates for that district is given to voting members during registration the night of their district meeting.

 

Members mark their candidate of choice and place their ballot in a box prior to the meeting being called to order.

 

Voting continues until the meeting begins. Once this happens, the meeting chairman selects a balloting committee who counts the ballots. Then, before the meeting is adjourned, the committee reports the election results to the meeting chairman who shares them with those present.

 

MLEC invites members to contact us if you have questions. Meeting dates and other information will be published in September’s issue of The Tennessee Magazine.

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Members wishing to declare candidacy must submit a completed Declaration of Candidacy and Statement of Qualifications form. It must reach the Cooperative Secretary at P.O. Box 240, Centerville, TN 37033 by July 15. Forms are available:

 

• At each MLEC office              

• By calling (931) 729-3558    

• By e-mailing power@mlec.net


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Board Candidate Qualifications

 

 

• Must be a natural person at least eighteen (18) years of age and a member in good standing now receiving residential electric service from the Cooperative.

 

• Must not be an employee nor the spouse of an employee of the Cooperative, nor a child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew of an employee of the Cooperative related by blood, adoption or marriage.

 

• Must not be a former employee nor the spouse of a former employee of the Cooperative unless employment with Cooperative was at least two (2) years previous to the date of the forthcoming district election.

 

• Has continually resided in the district from which election is being sought.

 

• Is a high school graduate or holds a GED certificate.

 

• Has never been convicted of a felony.

 

• If a candidate for re-election, must have received certification of completion of the Credentialed Cooperative Director Curriculum offered by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association or such similar cooperative director education and training program approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. If not a candidate for re-election, must understand that such will be a requirement for qualification to stand for any future re-election as such.

 

Members wishing to declare candidacy must submit a completed Declaration of Candidacy and Statement of Qualifications form. It must reach the Cooperative Secretary at P.O. Box 240, Centerville, TN 37033 by July 15. Forms are available:

 

• At each MLEC office              

• By calling (931) 729-3558    

• By e-mailing power@mlec.net