ALEDO — The four remaining directors of the Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s original nine-member board have voted to stick to the cooperative’s regular election cycle following a recent exodus.
Five directors have either been removed or have resigned in the last two weeks. The co-op announced the termination of Steve Harris and Jarrett Armstrong for violating the cooperative’s bylaws Feb. 20. A press release also stated director Kevin Ingle had simultaneously resigned. The following week, District 4 director and board chairman David Miller announced his resignation due to time conflicts. The next day, Feb. 27, TCEC announced that District 6 director Timmy Yeary had been dismissed for violating the cooperative’s bylaws as well as a board member confidentiality agreement.
The board previously planned to fill its vacant positions during its upcoming September election but has opted against that decision per a Feb. 27 announcement. Citing a desire for members to select their representatives, the board has instead voted to follow its regular election cycle, holding elections for Districts 5, 7 and 9 this year, Districts 1, 2 and 4 in 2026 and Districts 3, 6 and 8 in 2027.
District 5, which represents much of Azle and Springtown, was held by Harris until Feb. 20. This seat will be filled during the co-op’s regular election in September. District 4 was previously held by Miller, who is the Springtown City Manager, and covers parts of Springtown, Poolville, Weatherford and parts of rural Parker and Jack County; the seat will remain vacant until September 2026.
Districts 6 and 8, now vacant, will not be filled for nearly three more years.
Applications to file for a place on the ballot for Place 5, as well as additional materials, will be available on the TCEC website at tcectexas. com and in district offices by April 15. Candidates must be members of Tri-County Electric Cooperative.
TCEC is one of the state’s largest electricity providers, and as a cooperative, its customers are also memberowners. Four customers reached out to the Tri-County Reporter by press time to voice their concerns.
“With the majority of the board having been replaced, I am alarmed at rumors suggesting an effort to retain control by not holding elections to fill the vacant seats,” Robert Embrey of Poolville said. “The decision to prematurely close the election means that over 70% of our members will lack representation until 2028, which is unacceptable. Surely, anyone can tell this organization is a huge mess and I know the members are urgently trying to get someone to help do something!”
