Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative is guided by a board of trustees with the incredibly important responsibility of representing co-op members’ best interests when making significant decisions that impact issues like service rates, work plans, and rights-of-way.

The important thing to remember is that this nine-person board is made of members just like you, who receive electricity from the co-op and live in our communities.  

Every year, board elections are held in three of the nine LMRE districts. Members elect trustees to serve three-year terms and vote each summer online or by mail if there is a contested election.

Board seats up for election in 2022
District 3 – Carlisle, Columbia, and Eaton townships in Lorain County
District 6 – Grafton, Township in Lorain County; Litchfield, Liverpool, and York townships in Medina County
District 9 – Chatham, Harrisville, Lafayette, and Westfield townships in Medina County

Requirements

    • No member shall be eligible to become a trustee who is not a resident of the particular district they wish to represent.
    • Cannot be employed or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical or plumbing appliances, fixtures or supplies to the members of the Cooperative.
    • Must not be or have been an employee of the Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. for five (5) years prior to being elected or appointed to the Board of Trustees.
    • Must have received electric service from the Cooperative for at least one (1) year prior to being elected or appointed to the Board of Trustees.

Responsibilities
Board trustees meet once a month with the co-op’s attorney, general manager, and management staff to discuss important decisions that impact day-to-day operations. Along with the monthly board meetings, trustees may attend conferences in Columbus and national meetings in various locations.

Training courses covering the roles, responsibilities, knowledge, and skills that trustees need to govern the co-op are also encouraged. These often address governance, financial decision-making, strategic planning, and current and emerging issues in the industry.

Nominating petitions for districts 3, 6, and 9 will be available Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the cooperative’s office in Wellington. Any member who wishes to run for a board position must submit 25 signatures from within his or her district and an election application by 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 14. The candidate must be a member in good standing with the electric cooperative, be at least 18 years old, and have received electric service from LMRE for at least one year before being elected to the board.

Elected board members will be announced at the cooperative’s annual meeting in July. For more information on how to run for the board and the election process, contact the LMRE office at 800-222-5673 or visit www.lmre.org.