Incumbents win in Delaware Electric Cooperative election

The incumbents swept the recent election for the Delaware Electric Cooperative board of directors. A total of 14 people were seeking six three-year seats on the board. 

According to a report from election administrator Survey and Balloting Systems, 4,266 ballots were cast from among 93,363 eligible voters, a participation rate of just 4.57 percent. However, turnout was much higher than any previous election. The last election, held in 2019, drew 659 voters, said Jeremy Tucker, DEC manager of marketing and communications.

The difference this time around was the introduction of online voting, which was instituted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, only 28 of the 4,266 people voted in person. 

The new voting procedure was challenged by both the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2201 union and several of the candidates who were challenging incumbents. In both cases, challenges centered around lack of access to a computer or the internet for the elderly and low-income populations. 

In response, Delaware Electric Cooperative highlighted a week-long opportunity to vote in person at DEC’s Greenwood headquarters. 

As part of its election report, Survey and Balloting Systems shared the results of voter ratings on the online voting process. According to the report, 94.9 percent of responders were very satisfied or satisfied, 1.2 percent were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied, and 3.9 percent were neutral. Overall, 909 voters did not provide feedback. 

Results

District 3

William Wells - 64.5%

Charles Groce - 35.5%

District 6

Laura Phillips - 68%

Mary Matthews - 16.5%

Timothy Garrahan - 15.5%

District 7

Thomas E. Brown - 100%

District 9

Blaine Daisey - 46.9%

Matthew Hastings - 20.8%

Laura Carter - 20%

Matthew Brittingham - 12.2%

At Large 1

Michael Brown - 66.4%

William Collick - 33.6%

At Large 2

Hunter Emory - 67.6%

Deborah Guenther - 32.4%