Updated voting procedures offered by PEC

Pedernales Electric Cooperative members have an opportunity this year to nominate and elect representatives of their choosing to the utility's board of directors.

"The people have spoken, and at last someone has listened," said PEC4U.org member John Watson, "but it's taken a member uprising, a lawsuit, the threat of legislative action, some pointed editorials and deep-digging investigative reporting to get us this far, and we're not even where we need to be yet."

Any PEC member can run for an open board position by submitting a petition with the signatures of 25 members. A nomination package -- which includes the petition forms, eligibility requirements and a map of the director districts -- is available for downloading from www.pec4u.org and from the PEC website at www.pec.coop. Packets also can be picked up at any PEC office.

Deadline to submit nomination petitions for the three voting directors and two advisory director seats up for election this year is April 7.

The voting process also has been updated and made more convenient. For the first time, PEC members will have the option to vote electronically, as well as by mail or in person at the June 21 annual meeting.

A candidate questionnaire is available on the website at PEC4U.org/candidates2008/. Notice of candidate forums also will be posted after the April 7 deadline.