District Meetings & Elections

DISTRICT MEETINGS/ELECTIONS

SECO Energy’s service area is divided into nine geographic Districts. Each District is entitled to one Trustee to represent it in Cooperative affairs on the Board. Every year, three District Meetings are held to elect Trustees. In 2024, SECO held meetings/elections in Districts 7, 8 and 9. Drive-thru voting is available at each meeting.

Cooperatives like SECO Energy that continue to hold District Meetings require members to physically attend their District Meeting and cast a vote for a Trustee candidate, per Florida Statute. Due to the Statute and SECO’s Bylaws, members currently cannot cast a vote online, by phone or by mail.

DISTRICT MEETING AND ELECTION REQUIREMENTS

The following registration requirements ensure election compliance:

Only the person, or the spouse of the person, whose name appears on the official Cooperative records may register to vote at a District Meeting. Members with more than one account may only vote once.
Each member or member’s spouse must present identification at the time of registration.
Voting by members other than members who are natural persons (e.g. corporations or other entities) shall be allowed upon presentation of satisfactory evidence entitling the person to vote on behalf of the member.
Please bring this notice or your SECO bill and photo ID to the meeting. SECO Energy does not endorse any candidate.

At the conclusion of each meeting, a drawing will be held from all registered attendees for three (3) $250 and twenty (20) $25 electric bill credits. Winners will be notified the following week based on their notification preferences set in StormCenter.

Review your District Notice for candidacy information and for dates when candidate profiles will post below. Not sure what District your service address falls in? Use our interactive map to determine this by entering the address in the District Map below.

CANDIDATE PROFILES

District 4

James LaMotte

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

I have worked in public education in Marion County for 26 + years on the support side. I have worked my way up to an Area Coordinator position. I handle the custodial and grounds at 25 sites. I manage approximately 1oo employees and work with administrators to be sure we are delivering the best customer experience possible with limited resources, while working within my budget. I have worked with purchasing to write bids for our department. I create and provide management/employee training. I balance concerns from the public, administration, and employees to keep a productive environment that serves all. I have been the President of the SECO Foundation Board since it's inception. With these experiences I am confident that I meet the qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. I have a clear understanding of foundation principles and I am passionate about SECO Energy's mission.

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

I have been a SECO member for approximately 30 years. Additionally I was a member of Central Florida Electric Co-op for 6 years. Cooperative business models are non-profit organizations that serve their community as well as their members/customers. Their membership consists of autonomous individuals all of which hold a stake in the organization. An energy cooperative is entirely owned and governed by it's members. All members play a part in deciding on matters of governance and how the co-op delivers its services. As the cooperative evolves the customers/members benefit directly. Most cooperatives center around core values such as democratic member control, autonomy and independence, education/ training/information, and concern for the community. Energy co-ops account for over 33% of the U.S. electric industry establishing them as notable players in the renewable energy movement.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

There are several challenges facing the energy industry.

1) Increasing demand for energy.
2) Energy price volatility.
3) Grid security.
4) Technology-new power plants must incorporate the latest technology to be more efficient.
5) Financing of new power plants and substations.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

In my experiences with SECO Energy, the employees have always given excellent customer service. However, If I am called I would listen to the members concern in it's entirety and I would respond with a serving attitude. I would tell them I will look into the matter right away and follow up with them when I had answers. I would then contact the appropriate department with the concern and ask them to reach out to the member then call or email me the results. When that occurred I would follow up with the member. As an elected trustee I would work to find an acceptable resolution for SECO and the member.

Richard McGinley

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

I have an engineering background. I have worked for several utilities in the production of electricity at nuclear plants.

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

My family has had a SECO account since 1964 – 60 years. I have been a member since 2000.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

Supply of affordable energy. Protection of our energy grid. Keep up with the demands of growth in our area.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

With respect to the caller and consideration to their problems.

Anthony C. Grove

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

I am an experienced and seasoned executive and financial professional serving in the financial side of healthcare. As an experienced executive, I understand and celebrate the value of hearing multiple points of view and being able to find common success. My experience in solving problems and challenges comes from a very complex industry. I believe in the win-win scenario and practice that philosophy in my work.

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

We built our home in Clermont's Canyons at Highland Ranch in December 2019 and I have read the entirety of the SECO Energy website and newsletters during that time.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

Based upon my research, I believe that the biggest challenge will be cost. Secondary to cost is the ability to communicate with SECO Energy members so that they better understand the organization and its reasoning for decisions. As a tertiary matter, the growth of population in the area represents not only a challenge, but a unique opportunity to expand the energy footprint and spread more fixed costs among a larger customer base, lowering the unit cost of service for everyone.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

I would be open to communication via voice, text or email and presently monitor all of those modes of communication throughout the day. Customers are welcome to contact me with their concerns.

Martin E. Proctor

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

I am a Purdue graduate electrical engineer, retired from a career in electronics that included working with LED lighting, energy management and distribution, and solar power system designs. Today, I continue to be involved with local residents and organizations.
Currently engaged with these groups: SECO Foundation Board District 8 representative serving as Vice President. Lake County Water Authority District 1 representative and past chairman of the Board of Trustees appointed by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Groveland Planning and Zoning board member. DarkSky Central Florida advocate for the International DarkSky Association (darksky.org). Take Stock In Children of Lake/Sumter County mentor to two local high school students.

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

My wife Julie and I designed and built our home here in Groveland in 1989 becoming SECO members during construction and continuing as resident members.
Member owned electric cooperatives like SECO operate as private, non-profit companies. The primary purpose is to deliver electricity to customer members. It is SECO's responsibility as a co-op to provide stable rates and reliable infrastructure.
Members are allowed to select and vote for Board Trustees from among the SECO members who live in the district they serve.
The Board of Trustees is elected to oversee the governance of the cooperative; establishing, reviewing, and revising corporate policies to ensure that SECO continues to provide affordable and reliable service for all members.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

Keeping up with growth while maintaining a cost effective, modern and reliable delivery infrastructure for existing customers. Both new and existing customers' electric use continues to change. The changes include an ever increasing number of electric vehicles to charge, resident solar generation and storage, and the emergence of LED lighting.
The transmission infrastructure must be kept robust and prepared for growth without excessively burdening members' costs.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

I would respond by first politely listening and making note of the issue while letting the member know that the issue will be brought to the attention of the correct department within the SECO Energy team. Any response will be through the lens of a SECO representative. All members deserve respect and attentive listening with expectation of some solution or resolution of their question, problem or concern.
Today and for the 30+ years of my experience as a member, SECO has provided cost effective electric power and highly reliable electric service along with excellent customer service.

Joseph Kusiak

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

I have earned a Director Gold Certificate, 28 credits awarded by the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA).

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

23-year member of SECO, 5-year member of the Board of Trustees.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

Increasing energy demands in the SECO area, replacement of aging infrastructure, demand for reliability, increasing costs of crews and their equipment.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

I do my best to respond immediately, but in no case no more than a few hours.

Paul Schwarz

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

I was the CFO of Sussex Rural Electric Co-op in Sussex, NJ for 26 years. I gave financial reports to the board on a monthly basis, I helped reduce rates, and I helped the co -op to retire capital-credits on a more timely agenda.

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

I became a member of SECO on September 18, 2013. As a co-op CFO, I am aware of when and why co-ops were formed under the New Deal by FDR. Therefore, I am aware of the tax status of co-ops, capital credits, and that members are owners.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

The biggest challenge of the energy industry is climate change, reduce carbon pollution and encourage members to be more energy efficient, i.e. change to LED lights.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

I would respond politely and professionally.

Morgan Hatfield

1. What are your qualifications to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees?

Serving as the elected Trustee for District 9 for the past three years has been the best possible preparation for the future. Within the first year of my service, I completed all the required course work by the NRECA: Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) and Board Leadership Certificate (BLC). I hold the Director Gold credential which is the highest level of achievement through the NRECA. I am currently serving as both the Secretary/Treasurer of the SECO Energy Board of Trustees and the alternate voting delegate for NRECA.

I graduated from UCF with a degree in Finance, and am a Senior Wealth Advisor/Partner of Ruggie Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisory firm. As a fiduciary, I’m committed to being fiercely independent, without conflicts of interest, and have an obligation to always put my clients’ interests above my own. It’s a philosophy I believe in with all my heart, and which I believe informs the way I approach my role as a steward of our members’ trust today.

During my tenure as a Trustee, I have dealt with many opportunities and challenges from hiring a new CEO, to navigating natural gas price increases, supply chain shortages, and rate changes. Additionally, I’ve taken a strategic view of the substantial growth of new services in SECO’s service territory.

Having a passion to serve the members I represent, as well as SECO’s employees, takes quiet leadership and the willingness to act with moral courage to help guide SECO through the inevitable challenges that face the energy industry and the community I live in and love.

2. How long have you been a SECO member and what do you know about the cooperative business model?

I became a member in 2019, however, my parents have been members for nearly 50 years and my grandparents were members before that. The founding of Sumter Electric Rural Cooperative as an REA project in 1938, signaled the coming of electricity to the rural areas of Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties. It was a time when neighbors helped neighbors, and neighbors were there for each other: always working together. The business model of member ownership and local governance was extremely good for making an impact, and making things happen. And today, it still is. Yet it continues to take innovation, creativity, and a commitment to action to continue providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable power to our members.

I believe strongly in being a non-profit utility committed to providing reliable, affordable, sustainable energy to our member-owners. Every member gets a vote and as a result is invested in the future viability and strength of our co-op.

3. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge the energy industry will face over the next ten years?

The greatest challenge facing us is uncertainty, which comes in many forms: technical, regulatory, financial, environmental, and business risk. There are no best practices established for eliminating uncertainty. However, there are operational, logistical, and strategic best practices which can be identified and shared with internal and external partners and with other utilities facing similar challenges. This shared knowledge can be a powerful tool that can assist our knowledgeable and committed leadership and team members with managing inevitable uncertainty.

Great challenges also present great opportunities. Strategic goal-setting allows us the flexibility to capitalize on them.

We must:

Develop cost-effective renewable projects in times of rapidly changing technologies and pricing.
Modernize our infrastructure to meet our members’ growing needs and expectations for reliable electric service.
Address the potential for increased Inflation, that may cause low-income families and fixed-income retirees to struggle to pay their bills. We already experienced this in 2022 and we must be prepared for this going forward.
Provide enough power to our coverage areas.
Have a voice in Government regulations.
Work toward the fastest-possible recovery following hurricanes and other disasters.

4. As a Trustee, you may directly receive calls and complaints from members, how would you respond?

I respond as I do every day when speaking with my own clients. I listen to their questions and concerns and make sure their needs are addressed. Once speaking with a member, I immediately contact SECO Headquarters and notify them of the member's request. Once I have been informed by SECO that the request has been addressed with the member, I follow up with the member to ensure they have been taken care of, and they have no additional needs at this time.

District Map

SECO’s service territory is divided into nine Districts. Each District has a member-elected Trustee. Use our interactive map to determine this by entering your service address in the color-coded map below.