An incumbent and a newcomer were elected by Pedernales Electric Cooperative voters this week in the 2017 District 2 and 3 annual election.
Emily Pataki, daughter of former New York governor George Pataki, claimed her reelection bid to the District 2 seat, which covers an area in Williamson and Burnet counties.
Randy R. Klaus defeated Kathy Scanlon for the District 3 seat, which covers an area just north of Austin. Scanlon served District 3 for nine years.
Election results were announced during the PEC Annual Meeting Saturday in Leander. This year’s meeting focused on PEC’s commitment to going “beyond the lines,” highlighting the cooperative’s stable financials, low rates, record growth and increasing member satisfaction in 2016.
“Whether it’s through increased rate options, such as Time-of-Use or Esaver, or through enhanced technology systems that make information more accessible to PEC members, such as SmartHub and our new outage map, PEC employees take great pride in going above and beyond to help make the communities we love and live in better every day,” said PEC’s Chief Finanical Officer Tracy Golden, who is also the acting CEO.
Pataki, who served as board president during the past year, addressed members, citing achievements and improvements for members as costs have continued to decrease.
“In 2016, PEC added 12,000 new meters — that’s the size of a regular electric cooperative. With those new meters came new poles, wires, transformers and substations. Low-cost power, delivered to you safely and reliably: This is the core of what we do at PEC every day,” Pataki said. “It’s an exciting time to be a PEC member, and it’s an honor to serve you.”
However, PEC’s board elections come at a time of tumult as Pataki, along with other members of the board of directors, faced intense scrutiny following the resignation of John Hewa, PEC’s former CEO.
Prior to his resignation, Hewa alleged employees and officials at PEC faced intimidation after they spoke out against comments made by board director James Oakley in 2016.
Board officers will be elected during the cooperative’s regular July 17 board meeting.
