Dave Bethancourt announces he will run for Director, Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board, District 6

Long time Hays County resident and PEC member since 1981, Dave Bethancourt has announced that he will run for Director, PEC Board, District 6 in the upcoming 2009 PEC Board election.

An entrepreneur since 1981, Bethancourt owned and operated a successful retail/rental chain and is now semi-retired. Previously Bethancourt was in Corporate Human Resources. He and his wife of 36 years, Barbara, have raised their 3 children, Ann – a nursing student, wife and mother in San Antonio; John - serving in the U.S. Air Force in Washington, husband and father; and Rose - in technical support/telecommunications in San Marcos. Barbara is the manager of Harry and David at Prime Outlets in San Marcos.

Bethancourt is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in business.

His past and present community and professional memberships include the Texas Association of Business, the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, board of directors of the Boys club, board member of the Mental Health association, Kiwanis, San Marcos Downtown Merchants Association, Willow Creek Homeowners Association Board of Directors and numerous PTA and booster clubs.

When his neighborhood was illegally annexed by the city without providing full city services, he successfully coordinated a reversal, a first in Texas. Bethancourt exposed a fraudulent petition for a taxing entity and saved the taxpayers in our area over three million dollars annually.

Asked to state his vision for the Board, Bethancourt, a fiscal conservative, says PEC should deliver the best service at the lowest possible price while being run as openly as is feasible. From straight forward communication and common sense business practices the Board will continue to move in a direction that all members will be proud.

More information can be found at the following web page: http://votedavepec.com/

Robbi Boone, candidate for PEC Board of Directors District 6

Robbi Boone, a longtime resident of Canyon Lake is a candidate for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. Running for the District 6 Director position, Mrs. Boone states, “After the highly publicized abuses of PEC, my intent is to serve as the people’s watchdog.” She indicates that co-op members do not need more of big business and special interests. She states that the PEC Board needs Directors whose first concerns are rates and the interests of the membership.

District 6 represents the people of Canyon Lake, Bulverde, and parts of Kendall, Blanco, and Hays County (including sections of the Wimberley area). Robbi Boone is concerned with electrical costs, improving PEC communication with the membership in the magazine, website and by mail. Her goal is to represent the needs of the members to the board, attain renewable energy goals and reward conservation by PEC members.

As a PEC Director, she states that her first obligation will be to PEC members. Mrs. Boone will hold local meetings and report on PEC matters in newspapers articles and Letters to the Editors. She believes that personal advantage should never be a part of community service and that while much progress has been made during the past year; ethical standards must be paramount stating, “This election must continue the progress made during the past year. We must have directors who see 21st century solutions to energy – not those of the past.”

Mrs. Boone has been involved in numerous boards; including Illinois School Board Caucus Director initiated development of new programs including the creation of the San Antonio Newcomers, the Senator Bob Krueger Public Service Award and a highly regarded objective textbook selection methodology.

On a Condominium Board in Florida, she exposed the illegalities of the developer to the state. In addition she has led numerous civic organizations including a New Mexico county level PTA Presidency, Officers Wives Association President, By Law creation and revision committees for numerous civic organization, is a member of numerous Chambers of Commerce and has spoken at the legislature in New Mexico and Texas on behalf of our children, the beauty of our Hill Country and concerns that are often ignored by big business – the needs of the people - private citizens - not big business.

Robbi Boone is a graduate of Northwestern University, holds a Masters Degree in Educational Administration, is a business owner, lives on a small Canyon Lake, Comal County Longhorn ranch with her husband, Dan, and is a mother and grandmother of four, three six year olds and one almost teen.

Daryl Losaw for PEC Board of Directors, District 6

I, Daryl Losaw am announcing my candidacy for the Board of Director of Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC). As a small business owner and PEC member, I am motivated to demand the best from the cooperative. In light of the recent lawsuit and other events that have transpired over the last two years, the directors must now get back to business basics.

Unfortunately too much time and energy has been spent on attacking PEC when now is the time to rebuild this organization. Most importantly, PEC must concentrate on Reliable Power, Responsive Service and Reasonable Rates. I have the leadership ability to build a consensus among the Board of Directors and achieve these goals.

PEC needs a commitment to strengthen the organization with integrity. As a former Army Officer in Operation Iraqi Freedom II and small business owner, I know what it takes to the job done. The Hill Country is built on values of hard work, honesty and integrity and that is exactly what I will bring to PEC as your District 6 Director.

For additional information, please contact me at 210-478-1881 or visit my website www.daryllosaw.com

Linda Kaye Rogers for PEC Board of Directors, District 6

Linda Kaye Rogers of Wimberley, TX announces her candidacy for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for District 6. Rogers was one of the first PEC members to call attention to board and management misdeeds and publicly call for reforms within the cooperative.

“I know how co-ops are suppose to function. Just attending the annual meetings signaled to me that information was being withheld from members. My own questions were never answered and this led me to ask what they were hiding. This lack of transparency indicated that something was seriously wrong.”

Rogers has since continued her involvement with PEC by regularly attending board meetings, speaking publicly to the PEC board and management, and by meeting with PEC members to hear first-hand their needs and concerns. “I don’t know any candidate who has worked harder than Linda Kaye Rogers to understand the needs and concerns of the average PEC member,” says Dr. Sally Caldwell of Woodcreek. “She has her finger squarely on the pulse of the membership lifeline.”

Rogers, a professional with 30 years of experience, counts businesses, governments, universities, charities, hospitals and religious organizations among her extensive list of employers and clients. She has written policies, developed and managed initiatives for programs, and managed her own successful business. “I am skilled at helping both large businesses and small groups,” says Rogers “My varied experience will serve the cooperative well in its quest to once again call itself the best electric cooperative in the nation.”

At the time Rogers first got involved in the reform movement, the PEC management and board operated in a closed system which did not allow democratic elections for board members, and engaged in lavish spending and questionable business decisions. Thanks to the efforts of activists such as Rogers, and some recently elected new board members, PEC has recently become one of the most open and transparent electric cooperatives in the nation. “Now that many of the key governance and bylaws issues are resolved, it is time to focus on the core business of providing progressive, reliable and affordable electricity to our members,” says Rogers. “I will maintain the current democratic policies of openness and transparency while diligently working towards re-establishing the PEC on sound financial footing.”

“The Navigant report recently released by PEC shows that the finances at PEC are not as rosy as previous management reported,” continues Rogers “It’s time for the board to buckle down, focus on essential business, and protect the members from the higher electrical rates which could result from previous mismanagement.”

PEC revealed at the March board meeting that the cooperative has lost approximately $1.5 million due to its contract to purchase power from the South Trent Wind Energy Farm. “I believe this is an example of poor planning. I advocate renewable and sustainable forms of energy. We must move in that direction. But I also recognize this transformation will not come without cost. I believe that with proper planning, these costs can be minimized”, says Rogers. “As that technology becomes dependable and economical, I support an intelligent and responsible transition into the utilization of renewables. The board must not commit to emerging energy sources without first going through due diligence to determine their financial risk.” A dedicated conservationist, Rogers would help steer the cooperative toward a responsible, reliable, and cost-effective mix of renewable and traditional forms of energy.

International ratings agency Fitch recently downgraded PEC’s bond rating to ‘A+’ from ‘AA-”, citing among many factors, that the PEC board and management will continue to come under scrutiny from the membership, and that a lengthy period of rebuilding trust will delay the cooperative’s efforts to reduce costs. “The Fitch rating is proof that a board that betrays the membership’s trust also negatively impacts the co-op’s bottom line,” explains Rogers. “ Last year we elected an advisory director who promised he would not accept any compensation for service on the board. Yet, according to PEC records, he billed the PEC for almost $23,000 the first six months of his tenure. Now, more than ever, we need directors who can re-establish trust with the members and help rebuild PEC’s financial status. If elected, these will be my primary goals .”

“ Cooperatives are a fine example of the American principal of ‘by the people, for the people’, and I believe in that principal. I would very much like to see that principal fully operative at the PEC. It can be done and I am fully committed to working toward that goal.”

For additional information and interviews, Linda Kaye Rogers can be reached at 512-847-0634 or rogersforpec@gmail.com

Sandra P. “Sandy” Jenkins for PEC Director, District 1

Sandra P. Jenkins of Marble Falls announces her candidacy for the Pedernales Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, District 1. Jenkins, a 22 year resident of the Marble Falls area, is an area businesswoman, activist, and philanthropist. She has served on numerous boards and civic organizations donating both her time and resources to the improvement of both the Texas Hill Country and the lives of its citizens. She would now like to focus on improving the climate at PEC.

“I’ve been outspoken about the problems at PEC since they were first publicly revealed,” said Jenkins. “The PEC belongs to the people and should have a board comprised of directors who respect the members that own it.”

Jenkins, along with her late husband, Bob, co-founded ABC Pest Services, the largest family-owned pest control company in the state of Texas. “We founded ABC Pest Services with the intention of providing an honest product, quality service, and reasonable rates to our customers,” said Jenkins. “I will bring those same old-time values and dedication to customer satisfaction to PEC.”

Jenkins pinpoints several areas of needed improvement at PEC. “The appeal of the class action lawsuit settlement, although flawed, has been judicially upheld so now it’s time to move forward and not lose sight of future goals and challenges,” said Jenkins. “As a new board member I will continue to correct past mistakes, where possible, help create a new board that is more skilled at corporate oversight, and foster dedication to serving the members under co-op principles.”

Fitch recently downgraded PEC’s outstanding first mortgage bonds from ‘AA-‘ down to ‘A+’ citing ongoing pressures on PEC’s new management team and Board of Directors to implement reforms and cost controls in response to past mismanagement and excessive costs. Responding to this most recent troubling news for the co-op, Jenkins said, “As a board member my business experience will be a valuable asset as we work to cut costs, maintain appropriate levels of infrastructure and wisely invest the members’ money into cost-effective sources of energy.”

Energy conservation and continued use of renewable forms of energy also rank high among Jenkins’ concerns for PEC. As a ranch owner and community activist, Jenkins believes that natural resources must be used wisely. “Conservation is a big issue for me,” said Jenkins. We need to take better care of our natural resources so that there’s something left for our children. Therefore, programs which reward energy conservation will be a cornerstone of my board membership. Conservation programs are not only good for our environment, but they help to reduce our electric bills.”

Jenkins has a decades-long record of dedicated service to numerous boards, political groups, and charitable organizations. Her wealth of experience serving on various boards gives her expert insight into good board practices. “A common fallacy among some of the membership and even some of the other board candidates is that the board runs the daily operations of PEC,” explains Jenkins. “In fact, the Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the general manager of the cooperative, for setting policy, for providing guidance and initiative, and for representing and protecting the needs and concerns of the membership.”

Currently, Jenkins divides her time between managing her Double Eagle Game Ranch, limited activities as a real estate broker, and serving on multiple boards including the Marble Falls Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board and the Hill Country Community Theatre. She is also the founder and an active member of the Hill Country Plungettes. “Sandy Jenkins is the kind of person who believes that it’s important to give back to the community,” said Bill Parmeter of Marble Falls. “She is the type of person who gets involved in order to help make things better…and she always does...”

Cristi Clement Announces Candidacy for PEC Board, District 1

Cristi Clement of Marble Falls has announced that she is a candidate for the District 1 Director position on the Pedernales Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors. The co-op holds its election in May and June.

Ms. Clement has closely followed events involving the PEC since moving here from Germany several years ago, where she was employed by the U.S. Air Force as a contracting official. She said she has the education, business background and experience needed to help the co-op move ahead with its commitments to better serve its 222,000-plus members.

She added, “I applaud the Board’s recent moves toward openness, transparency, and efficiency, as well as the efforts to encourage conservation and make appropriate use of renewable resources. However, there is still much work to be done to strengthen the co-op. I will work to help the cooperative continue to deliver a reliable product at the lowest rate possible, consistent with sound management practices. And I will work to ensure that concerns of the owners of the cooperative, the members themselves, are heard, respected, and addressed.”

She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and earned her master’s degree in procurement and acquisition management from Webster University.

As a civilian employee of the Air Force, Ms. Clement performed her duties at bases in Oklahoma, Texas and Germany. She retired in 2006 after a second five-year tour with the Air Force’s European headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Between those assignments she filled two sensitive contracting positions in San Antonio.

“I’ve negotiated and had oversight over a number of huge contracts related to complex major weapon systems, large facility and infrastructure projects, intelligence activities, aerospace fuels for launch programs and sensitive communications operations that are vital to our national defense,” Ms. Clement said. “Most of my fiduciary responsibilities were conducted at top secret and higher security category levels.”

She handled sensitive contracts at the Air Force Intelligence Agency headquarters in San Antonio and advocated on behalf of the national small business sector for contracting opportunities within the classified arena.

While based in Oklahoma, Ms. Clement played a major role negotiating and managing contractor support services during early deployment of the B-1 bomber. Additionally, she was Deputy for Small Business and ensured the nation’s small business sector was fairly considered for contract awards. Prior to federal service, Ms. Clement was a systems analyst/programmer for a 5-state regional commodities cooperative.

She is married to native Texan Doug Moore, who spent 47 years with the Air Force.