Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) convened its 86th Annual Meeting on August 21, 2024, at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, drawing local members to oversee board elections and discuss key cooperative initiatives.
At the meeting, five SMECO members were elected to serve three-year terms on the board. Representing Calvert County, Susan Hance-Wells secured her position. From Charles County, Kenneth W. Cross and Edward Holland were elected. St. Mary’s County will be represented by Walter Rayner Blair III and William R. Cullins III.
The cooperative, which prides itself on member involvement, saw over 7,400 members participate in the voting process. Votes were cast through a combination of mail-in and electronic ballots, distributed starting July 15 with a final submission deadline of August 14. Of the returned ballots, 73% were mailed in, while 27% were submitted online. Participants in the election process were entered into a draw, with 30 lucky members winning electric bill credits worth $50 each.
During the meeting, SMECO’s board chairman, Walter Rayner Blair III, officially commenced the proceedings. Following his opening remarks, SMECO’s president and CEO, Sonja Cox, presented a video version of the cooperative’s 2023 annual report, which underscored SMECO’s dedication to supporting local and diverse businesses, advancing charitable initiatives, and environmental stewardship, all while maintaining high reliability standards amidst rising costs.
Cox highlighted the cooperative’s continued investments in infrastructure upgrades and enhancements, aimed at maximizing efficiency and maintaining high service quality. She also addressed questions about Rider-G, a renewable energy option for members seeking 100% of their electricity from renewable sources.
“SMECO was built by this community for this community, and we will continue to take the steps necessary to ensure the sustained financial wellbeing of the cooperative while remaining committed to our mission of providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for our members,” Cox emphasized. “We love our community and we want to see it thrive.”
The election results were as follows:
- Calvert County: Susan Hance-Wells emerged victorious with 4,000 votes, followed by other nominees.
- Charles County: Kenneth W. Cross and Edward Holland received 5,950 and 5,772 votes, respectively.
- St. Mary’s County: Walter Rayner Blair III and William R. Cullins III secured their positions with 5,579 and 6,005 votes, respectively.
The meeting not only reflected SMECO’s commitment to community and sustainability but also reinforced the cooperative’s foundational role in fostering local engagement and development.
