Glades Electric Cooperative News 2024 Trustee Elections and Annual Meeting

2024 Trustee Elections and Annual Meeting

Posted: January 16, 2024 at 7:00 am

Page Update: April 12, 2024

2024 Annual Meeting Video

View the video of our 2024 Annual Meeting held on April 11, 2024 at the Glades County Auditorium:

 

2024 Election Results

1,315 Ballots Cast in 2024 Election

2024 Trustee Election Results

  • Trustee District 2 – Hendry County: Barney Goodman received 1,112 votes
  • Trustee District 6 – Highlands Park: Lee Henderson received 1,106 votes
  • Trustee District 8 – Lake Josephine: Jack Coxe received 1,069 votes

Approval of 2023 Annual Meeting Minutes

  • 1,214 votes for approval of the minutes
    58 votes against approval of the minutes

Congratulations to our 2024 Grand Prize Drawing Winners!

  • $2,500 bill credit winner: Teresa Osborn
  • $1,500 bill credit winner: Candice Forthofer
  • $1,000 bill credit winner: Constance Gravina

2024 Annual Meeting Details

When: April 11, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Glades County Auditorium at Moore Haven Middle-High School, 700 Terrier Pride Rd., Moore Haven, FL 33471
What: A short business meeting to provide an annual update, announce Trustee election results and grand prize drawing winners from members who voted in the election. Members do not have to be present to win. The meeting will be recorded and posted the following day on this webpage.
Who: All Glades Electric Cooperative members are invited to attend. However, all voting will take place prior to the annual meeting by electronic vote through SmartHub or by requesting a mail-in ballot.

How can you vote in the 2024 Trustee Elections?

  • NEW IN 2024: Electronic voting will be available on SmartHub from March 4 at 7:00 a.m. – April 5 at 5:00 p.m.
    Look for the “Vote Now” button on SmartHub’s home page. You’ll also receive an email when electronic voting opens.
    Just log onto SmartHub to access our electronic ballot for a quick, streamlined voting experience without waiting for or returning a mail-in ballot.
  • If you prefer a mail-in ballot, ballots can be requested from February 1 – March 12.
    Request a ballot via the SmartHub app or website (See details below to request via SmartHub).
    Or call Member Services Monday – Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 863-946-6200
    Or visit our Moore Haven or Lake Placid offices. (Members calling the office will be asked to verify their identity.)
  • Ballots will be mailed to members beginning March 8.
  • Return your ballot to be received by April 5 using the envelope provided with your ballot. Allow sufficient time for delivery to the Minnesota return address.

What’s in it for you?

  • Vote to receive a $5 bill credit in May.
  • Voting members will be entered into our grand prize drawing to win one of bill credits in the amount of $1,000, $1,500, and $2,500.
  • Participating in the democratic member control of your electric cooperative.

What’s on the ballot?

How do you request a mail-in ballot on SmartHub?

  • In the SmartHub app: At the bottom of the app, choose More > Contact Us > Report an Outage/Issue > Other Issues/General Inquiry > Request a Ballot.
  • On the SmartHub website: Select Contact Us > Report an Outage/Issue. On the Inquiry dropdown menu, select Request a Ballot.
  • BALLOT REQUESTS WILL ONLY BE MAILED TO THE MAILING ADDRESS ON FILE WITH THE COOPERATIVE.

Questions? Email communications@gladeselectric.com or call 863-946-6200.

2024 Ballot Information

  • Candidates for Districts 2, 6, and 8 are up for election this year.
  • The approval of the 2023 Annual Meeting minutes will also be on the ballot.

2024 Candidate Bios

District 2 – Hendry County
Barney Goodman- Incumbent Trustee, Nominated by Committee

Barney Goodman

Mr. Goodman, of Pioneer Plantation in Clewiston, has resided in Florida for the past 40+ years and has always been “community inspired”. Mr. Goodman enjoys growing ornamental and decorative palm trees in Hendry County. Prior to his current service on the GEC board as District 2 Trustee, Mr. Goodman served 2 1/2 years as a member of the Glades Electric Charitable Trust board, helping many Hendry County residents. He served as Chairman during his final year.

He has successfully completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Certificate Programs earning the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate, and the Director Gold Credential.

Mr. Goodman, a Licensed Board-Certified Dispensing Optician, practices at Eye Centers of Florida in Clewiston. He has served a 7-year term for the State of Florida Board of Opticianry, including service as Vice Chairman. Mr. Goodman proudly served and has retired as a Fire Fighter/First Responder in Station 5 Pioneer Fire Department. He is also a past president of the Pioneer Homeowners Association and a past Scout Master for Troop 354 at St. Elizabeth Church. Mr. Goodman has one son, Charlie, who resides in Atlanta.

District 6 – Highlands Park
Lee Henderson – Incumbent Trustee, Nominated by Committee

Lee HendersonMr. Henderson is a native Floridian, born in Sarasota, Florida. His parents moved to Indiana when he was 2 years old, returning to Florida 11 years later. He has lived in Highlands County for 48 years and graduated from Lake Placid High School where he completed courses in outboard motor repair.

Lee is currently part owner of Henderson’s Fish Camp. Lee is married to Catherine and has two daughters, Morgan, age 31, who is expecting her first child in April of 2024 with her husband Zach, and Quinci, age 20. Mr. Henderson is a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a former member of Scottish Rite and Shriners. He was originally appointed to the Glades Electric Board of Trustees to complete the term of his father, Morgan Henderson, after his passing in 1996, and has been re-elected for seven consecutive terms since running in 1997, and is currently serving as the Board Vice President.

Lee has successfully completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Certificate Programs earning the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate, and the Director Gold Credential. Mr. Henderson currently serves on the Florida Electric Cooperative Association Legislative Committee.

District 8 – Lake Josephine
Jack Coxe – Incumbent Trustee, Nominated by Committee

John (Jack) CoxeMr. Coxe is a native Floridian and retired general manager of Florida Transport Company’s tallow plant in Miami. Jack has been a permanent resident of Sebring since 1993. He has two daughters and a son, nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Coxe has an extensive small business background including owning and operating a gasoline/service station, truck rentals, and a trucking business in the Miami area.

He has successfully completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Certificate Programs earning the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate, the Board Leadership Certificate, and the Director Gold Credential.

Mr. Coxe has served on the Board of Trustees since 1994, and is the current President. He has also served as Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Treasurer on the Executive Board of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association, and as a member of the Board of the Florida Rural Electric Self-Insured Fund, the Florida Rural Electric Credit Union, and Seminole Electric Cooperative.

Mr. Coxe is active in the Florida Lake Watch Volunteers, the Highlands Lake Association, the Lake Josephine Association and St. Catherine’s Church in Sebring.

Want to know more about nominations? Visit https://www.gladeselectric.com/about-us/board-of-trustees/.

Important Links

2023 Annual Meeting Minutes on the 2024 ballot.
2023 Annual Report