Coastal Electric Cooperation’s 71st annual meeting combined lighthearted entertainment with the democratic process Thursday at Midway Middle School. The cooperative is a not-for-profit electric distribution company that provides power to about 14,000 residents in Liberty, Bryan, Long and McIntosh counties.

Co-op members filed in past the candidates’ tables, and lined up in the school’s gym to register and cast their votes as they would for any city or county elected official.

Once votes were cast, Coastal EC members enjoyed a performance by singer and musician David Buskirk, ran into a comedic robot that surprised young and old in the school’s halls and listened to WTOC-TV anchor Sonny Dixon as he emceed the event. After the annual meeting, co-op staffers and volunteers provided members 1,250 take-out lunches prepared by Love’s Seafood.

Board of directors candidates from Liberty, Bryan and McIntosh counties greeted cooperative members, with four candidates in the two contested races asking for members’ votes.

Incumbents John T. Woods III of Liberty County and Laura McGee of Bryan County were running against Jimmie T. Jones and Christine McDermott, respectively. Barbara A. Davis, who represents McIntosh County, is running uncontested. Davis serves as secretary/treasurer for the board.

J. Mark Bolton, vice president, Marketing, Communications and Economic Development with Coastal EC, said Woods and McGee were able to hold their seats in Thursday’s election, with 1,887 registered members casting ballots.

“The board sets policies and oversees operations,” Woods said. “We make sure (Coastal EC) runs smoothly, which it does.”

McGee was appointed to the board after her predecessor, James Estes of Richmond Hill, died suddenly in February. She is running to serve a full three-year term.

“It seemed like it was a good time in my life to take this on,” the Richmond Hill CPA said.

Read more in the June 4 edition of the News.