2026 Trustee Elections and Annual Meeting
2026 Trustee Elections
Three Glades Electric Cooperative Board of Trustee seats are scheduled for election in 2026, representing District 5 (Venus/Hicoria), District 7 (Lorida), and District 9 (Okeechobee).
In accordance with Glades Electric’s bylaws, a Nominating Committee was appointed to identify trustee candidates. The committee met on January 6, 2026, and nominated the following individuals:
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District 5: Brad Oxer (Incumbent)
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District 7: Fred Tagtmeier (Incumbent)
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District 9: Angela Hodges (Incumbent)
As required by the bylaws, the Nominating Committee’s meeting minutes are posted for review at the Glades Electric offices.
Members also had the opportunity to submit nominations by petition. The January 8, 2026 deadline for petition nominations was announced in the October 2025 issue of Florida Currents and posted on the Board of Trustees webpage. No additional nominations were submitted by the deadline.
Because one candidate qualified for each district, the nominees listed above are considered elected in accordance with Glades Electric bylaws and Section 425.10 of the Florida Statutes. They will officially take office following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting on April 8, 2026.
2026 Annual Meeting Details
When: April 8, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Glades Electric Cooperative Training Room, 26819 U.S. Highway 27, Moore Haven, FL 33471
What: A short business meeting to provide an annual update and officially announce the candidates elected for the 2026 Trustee elections. The meeting will be recorded and posted on this webpage.
Who: All Glades Electric Cooperative members are invited to attend.
2026 Annual Meeting Video
2026 Candidate Bios
District 5 – Venus/Hicoria
Brad Oxer – Incumbent Trustee, Nominated by Committee
Brad Oxer is an incumbent Trustee who has served on the GEC Board since June 30, 2022. A lifelong resident of Highlands County, he graduated from Lake Placid High School and has lived in Venus since 1977. Brad is currently working toward earning his Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate.
Brad owns and operates X-Bar Inc., a family ranch that has been in operation for three generations, where he raises beef cattle. He prepared for his career in agriculture by attending Texas Christian University, where he earned a certificate in ranch management in 1975.
Active in agricultural leadership and conservation efforts, Brad is a past member and president of the Glades/Hendry County Farm Service Agency and a past director of the Glades and Hendry Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Committee. He currently serves as treasurer of the Glades County Cattleman’s Association.
Brad and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 49 years and have two sons and three grandchildren. Together, they helped found Cowboy Church, with some services held in the church barn located on their property.
District 7 – Lorida
Fred Tagtmeier – Incumbent Trustee, Nominated by Committee
Fred Tagtmeier is an incumbent Trustee who has served on the GEC Board since August 25, 2022. A longtime member of Glades Electric Cooperative, he brings deep familiarity with the district, having lived in the Lorida area for the past 35 years. Fred is currently working toward earning his Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certificate.
Fred retired in October 2021 after more than 30 years in law enforcement, most recently serving as an agricultural detective with the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office. In this role, he coordinated investigative efforts with state agencies across Florida and led proactive operations in response to crime trends affecting the agricultural community.
In addition to his professional career, Fred has a strong record of community and industry involvement. He is a past president of the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit (FACIU), previously served as treasurer of the Highlands County Farm Bureau, and has served on the Avon Park Air Force Range Outdoor Recreation Program advisory board.
Fred and his wife, Gena, have been married for 35 years. They have two children—a son and a daughter—and one grandson.
District 9 – Okeechobee
Angela Hodges – Incumbent Trustee, Nominated by Committee
Angela Hodges has called Okeechobee home since 1968 and has been a cooperative member since 1987. A graduate of Okeechobee High School’s Class of 1981, she went on to continue her education at Indian River State College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational management.
Angela retired on September 30, 2025, after a long and dedicated career with the Okeechobee County School Board, where she served as a program specialist in finance. During her tenure, she also contributed her time and expertise on numerous School Board committees.
Her service to the cooperative began prior to joining the GEC Board of Trustees in September 2014, having previously served on the Glades Electric Charitable Trust. Angela currently serves as president of the Glades Electric Educational Foundation and has also held the role of vice president.
A strong advocate for continuing education, Angela has earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director designation and completed multiple trustee training sessions, along with a financial workshop focused on the electric industry. She has also achieved NRECA’s Board Leadership Certificate and the Director Gold certification.
Angela and her husband, John, have been married for 43 years. They are the proud parents of two children, Arianna and John Alan, and grandparents to their grandson, Noah, 14.
Want to know more about nominations? Visit https://www.gladeselectric.com/about-us/board-of-trustees/.