HUGHESVILLE, Md. — The Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) Board of Directors has named nine members to its 2025 Nominating Committee, tasked with reviewing candidates for five board positions up for election this year. The committee will convene on May 7, 2025, at SMECO’s headquarters in Hughesville to evaluate applications for seats representing Calvert/Anne Arundel, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties.
The appointees include Kimberly Freeland of Prince Frederick and Jack Sigler of Port Republic for Calvert County; Joseph L. Gardiner Jr. of La Plata, Jerome Short of Indian Head, and William B. Young Jr. of Waldorf for Charles County; Ernest H. Riess of Brandywine for Prince George’s County; and Edith M. Bell of Chaptico, George A. Brown of Loveville, and Catherine Brenda Coates of Lexington Park for St. Mary’s County. They will assess candidates for one position in Calvert/Anne Arundel counties, two in Charles County, one in Prince George’s County, and one in St. Mary’s County.
SMECO members seeking nomination must submit a Board of Directors Candidate Application by 4 p.m. on May 2, 2025, via the cooperative’s website at smeco.coop/annualmeeting. Alternatively, groups of 15 or more members can nominate candidates by petition, with applications due by 4 p.m. on May 22, 2025, also available at the same site. The process complies with SMECO’s bylaws, specifically Article IV, Sections 4.02 and 4.03, which outline nomination and director qualifications.
The election will occur through mail and online voting, with ballots mailed to members ahead of the Annual Meeting on August 20, 2025. Members can vote online or return ballots by mail, with results announced at the meeting. No on-site voting will take place. SMECO, serving over 170,000 customers across Southern Maryland, uses this democratic process to ensure member representation on its board.
The Nominating Committee’s role is critical in vetting candidates who will help govern the cooperative, which operates as a customer-owned utility. Eligible candidates must be SMECO members, meet residency requirements, and adhere to bylaw standards. Applications require basic personal and eligibility details, available online for transparency and accessibility.
SMECO has encouraged interested members to participate, emphasizing the importance of the board in setting policies and rates. The cooperative’s headquarters, located at 15035 Burnt Store Road in Hughesville, will host the committee meeting, reinforcing its central role in regional governance. Members can request bylaws from any SMECO office or download them online.
The upcoming election follows SMECO’s established tradition of member-driven leadership, with the Nominating Committee ensuring a fair and structured selection process. Results from the August vote will shape the board’s composition for the next term, impacting the cooperative’s strategic direction.
