Candidates nominated to run for SMECO board of directors

Friday, June 4, 2010

The 2010 nominating committee for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative met May 8 and chose candidates for the five open seats on SMECO's board of directors.

Nominees are, for Calvert County, W. Michael Phipps and Kevin Turner; for Charles County, Gilbert O. Bowling, Steven D. Lowe and Richard A. Winkler; for St. Mary's County, P. Scott White; and for Prince George's County, James A. Richards.

In addition to nominations made by the committee, any 15 or more SMECO members acting together may make other nominations by petition by July 2. SMECO customer-members running by petition should complete and submit a board of directors candidate application. To obtain an application, contact Patty Tennyson at 301-274-4489 or Patty.Tennyson@smeco.coop. Nominations will be posted in each SMECO office and mailed to each member with the annual meeting notice, according to a SMECO release.

SMECO members will elect five directors to serve three-year terms by voting for one board seat in Calvert County, two seats in Charles County, one seat in St. Mary's County and one seat in Prince George's County.

Members may vote in person at the 2010 Annual Members' Meeting on Sept. 1. The meeting will be held at the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs Regency Furniture Stadium, 11765 St. Linus Drive in Waldorf, according to the release.

Absentee mail-in ballots are also available to members who wish to vote but cannot attend the meeting. To request an absentee mail-in ballot, call 888-440-3311, ext. 4722 or go to the co-op's website at www.smeco.coop. Requests for absentee mail-in ballots must be made by 4 p.m. Aug. 19, according to the release.

SMECO will mail notices with registration cards, details about the meeting and candidate biographies to each member by the end of July.

SMECO is an electric cooperative providing power to more than 148,000 customers in southern Prince George's County, and in Charles County, St. Mary's County, and all but the northeast portion of Calvert County.