OMEA Holds Annual Meeting and Board Elections

COLUMBUS, OH: The Ohio Municipal Electric Association (OMEA) recently held its annual General Membership meeting, which included elections for the organization’s Board of Directors and Honorary Membership.

The OMEA is guided by a 16-member Board of Directors, elected by their peers to staggered, four-year terms. Board seats are held by OMEA member communities. The communities of Bryan, Painesville and Westerville (were re-elected to four-year terms on the OMEA Board of Directors. Those communities have been represented on the Board by Mayor Carrie Schlade (Bryan), Council Member Paul Hach (Painesville) and Council Vice Chair Megan Reamsnyder (Westerville). Additionally, the community of Oberlin was elected to a four-year term on the OMEA Board of Directors.

“The members of the OMEA Board are vitally important in our collective efforts to advocate for the rights of municipal electric communities in Ohio,” said Michael Beirne, OMEA Executive Director. “In an industry facing ever-shifting issues and challenges, we are fortunate to have such great leadership representing us on the Board of Directors.”

Following the election, the OMEA Board of Directors conducted its annual reorganization meeting and Wadsworth Mayor Robin Laubaugh was re-elected as president of the Board. Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade and Montpelier Mayor Steve Yagelski were re-elected to the Board’s three-member Executive Committee.

During the OMEA General Membership meeting, the following individuals were recognized and named OMEA Honorary Members:

• Ken Blue, Village of Prospect
• Jerald Clink, Village of Custar
• Jerry Gee, City of Tipp City
• Bill George, City of Newton Falls
• Dick Long, City of Bryan
• Mayor Tom O’Leary, City of Galion
• Michael Ryan, City of Hamilton
• Tim Stallard, Village of Lucas
• Steve VanScoder, Village of Cygnet

The OMEA general membership selects honorary members in recognition of individuals whose dedication and service on behalf of public power has been of the highest order.