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Newly elected directors Chris Perry and Ross Fischer were officially seated June 28 on Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors; all seven directors have now been democratically elected. The new Board, meeting at a special organizational meeting at the Johnson City headquarters, also held officer elections and re-elected District 6 Director Larry Landaker as Board president. District 4 Director Perry was elected vice president and District 1 Director Cristi Clement is secretary-treasurer.

"I am very gratified at the outcome of this year’s director election," Landaker said after the meeting. "I am confident we will have a cohesive Board that can work together with management, putting the interests of our members first."

Landaker stated a number of goals for the Cooperative, including:

•Creating a strategic plan.

•Building trust with the membership.

•Strengthening communications between the Board, management and employees.

•Focusing more on renewable energy and conservation.

"We want to take energy efficiency and renewable energy to a whole new level," Landaker said.

Perry and Fischer were elected by members in an election that ended at the June 19 PEC Annual Membership Meeting. Prior to the officer election, the new directors signed affirmations and officially took their seats on the Cooperative’s Board. The other five current Board members also signed affirmations, renewing their commitment to serve as directors.

"I’m honored to have been asked by the members to serve on the Board of Directors of the Cooperative," said Perry. "I’m very confident we’ll pull together to do what’s right for the members, and I’m looking forward to bringing the experience I have in the power industry to keep PEC such an outstanding cooperative."

Fischer, who’ll serve as District 5 Director, echoed Landaker’s and Perry’s sentiments. "I look forward to helping PEC build credibility with its members, employees and the general public. I have offered my assistance to the Board president in that regard."

Earlier in the meeting, the Board also formally accepted results for the general PEC election, in which members overwhelmingly approved adding a member bill of rights and three other amendments to PEC’s Articles of Incorporation, which legally defines the highest-level business rules of the Cooperative. The member bill of rights establishes core rights — such as election safeguards and access to PEC meetings and records — which can only be changed with a member vote.

Former directors R.B. Felps and O.C. Harmon, as well as departing advisory director Lamont Ramage, were recognized for their contributions to the Cooperative in separate resolutions passed by the Board. Ramage is retiring from the Board June 30.

Landaker also said the Board will take steps at its next meeting to move forward with replacing outgoing general manager Juan Garza, whose last day with PEC is also June 30. The meeting is scheduled for July 19, at 10 a.m. at the Cooperative’s E. Babe Smith Headquarters Building in Johnson City.