Whatever the outcome in Saturday’s Cobb EMC elections, the Marietta co-operative is guaranteed to move forward with at least two new board members.
Six incumbents on the board, including two whose seats are up for election Saturday, have decided not to run again. Those leaving the board, which has traditionally seen little turnover, include its longtime chairman and vice chairwoman.
Saturday’s election is the first of three rounds of elections for the electric utility's board as it tries to move away from its tarnished reputation stemming from a 2007 customer lawsuit and the indictment of its former CEO. The elections will also be closely watched by Georgia’s other 41 electric co-operatives as transparency initiatives pushed by new directors -- and possibly state lawmakers -- could affect their operations.
“Entities such as this watch each other and learn by example,” said Ron Carlson, a professor emeritus at the University of Georgia who has studied Cobb EMC’s saga. “I think the other co-ops will make sure they don’t fall into some of the pitfalls that led to this eruption at Cobb EMC.”
On Saturday's ballot are 14 candidates, including two incumbents, for the first four board seats. Two groups seeking change have endorsed a slate of candidates, and several others -- some who unsuccessfully sought those endorsements -- are running as independent candidates. All are talking about reform and transparency through a mix of open meetings, a forensic audit and even a customer bill of rights. Some of the new initiatives are likely with the dearth of incumbent members. All three incumbents up for re-election in the next round of elections in February have bowed out, and one incumbent is not seeking re-election in the final round in May.
“Our mission from the beginning was to replace the board,” said Les Wilson, an organizer of the Cobb EMC Owners Association, one of three groups working for change at the co-op. Wilson’s group of EMC customers has vetted and endorsed its own slate of candidates and has spent about $10,000 on radio and newspaper advertisements supporting them.
“We wanted to remove any lingering issues that could have or would have been involved with the previous board,” he said. “We wanted the whole organization to have a fresh approach.”
The fresh approach at the EMC that serves 171,000 customers has been long in coming. The elections will change the makeup of a body that has been the same since R.J. Patel was appointed to the board in May 2010 to replace a deceased member. Before that, members had become fixtures on the board, with most serving more than 10 years and one member serving 32 years. And, earlier this year, Chip Nelson was selected as the EMC’s new CEO to succeed Dwight Brown, who had led the utility since 1993.
As Cobb EMC customers have pushed for change, the election has become a referendum on the incumbent board members, who many members see as being complicit in the business dealings that led to a 2007 lawsuit, Brown’s indictment on charges of racketeering, theft and witness intimidation,, and decisions to hire Brown as a contractor after his retirement and to implement generous director benefits. In the months leading up to Saturday’s vote, the chatter at candidate forums, sidewalk rallies and community meetings has focused on hope and change.
Patel and incumbent Henry Balkcom are hoping members see their dedication to the utility and desire for more transparency as reasons to keep them on the board. Patel has repeatedly distanced himself and his short tenure from the issues involving the lawsuit. This week he announced endorsements from prominent Cobb business people and Kennesaw city leaders, and he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his re-election bid is fueled by his desire to serve the community.
For Balkcom, the decision to run is simple: “I’m not a quitter.” he said.
Despite their best efforts, those two members could be swept out of office by members with long memories.
“The things that these [incumbent] board members were letting go on kind of burns you a little. While I was barely able to pay my electricity bill, these people were paying [Dwight] Brown as a consultant,” Kennesaw resident and EMC customer Margaret Hogue said. “I’m going to vote for new blood.”
Cobb EMC board elections
Who’s running:
14 candidates, including two incumbents, are running Saturday for four of the 10 seats on the Cobb EMC board of directors
Area 1: (incumbent Don Barnett is not seeking re-election)
Edward Crowell, CEO of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association, www.crowellemc.com
Johnny Woodward, restaurant owner, www.johnnywoodward.com
Area 6: (incumbent Al Fortney is not seeking re-election)
Patrick Longhi, attorney, longhilaw@comcast.net
Stewart Manley, retired Cobb County Tax Commission manager and a retired Navy captain
David Tennant, management consultant and engineer, www.windward.ws
Area 7:
Larry Baker, management consultant and professor
William Cominos, retired fire chief and electric industry manager
R.J. Patel (incumbent), residential and commercial cleaning company owner
Paul Phillips
Charles Spann, retired Cobb County police officer and Air Force veteran, www.cspannemc.com
Charles Swanson, printing business owner
Karen Thornburgh, health care industry auditor
Area 10:
Henry Balkcom III (incumbent), Quitman County Farm Bureau executive
Cheryl Meadows, retired airport executive and corporate secretary
Know before you go:
The first round of Cobb EMC board member elections is set for Saturday at Piedmont Church in Marietta.
- Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A meeting will begin at 10 a.m. to allow candidates to address members. Election results will be announced after polls close and ballots are counted.
- EMC members can vote for a candidate in each area.
- A candidate must receive at least 50 percent of the vote in his particular area to win. A runoff election will be held Dec. 3 for areas in which no candidate receives at least 50 percent plus one vote.
What’s next
Feb. 18: Board member elections for Areas 2, 3 and 9
May 12: Board member elections for Areas 4, 5 and 8
Information: www.cobbemc.com
Whatever the outcome in Saturday’s Cobb EMC elections, the Marietta co-operative is guaranteed to move forward with at least two new board members.
Six of the 10 incumbent board members, including two up for re-election tomorrow, have decided not to run again.
Saturday’s election is the first of three rounds of elections for all 10 members of the EMC’s board as the electric utility tries to move away from its tarnished reputation and begin a new chapter.
About the Author
