Orange County REMC Announces Board of Director Election Candidates for 2024
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Orange County REMC, a member-owned electric cooperative serving over 8,000 members in Orange and parts of Martin, Lawrence, Washington, and Crawford counties, is pleased to announce the candidates running for the Board of Director election at the upcoming Annual Meeting on June 7, 2024. This year, one director will be elected to serve District 3 in the 2024 election.
Danny Easterday, District 3, and Brian Hawkins, District 6, are the directors whose terms expire in 2024. Easterday does not intend to seek reelection and has served on the Board of Directors for 33 years. The District 3 Board of Director candidates are Brent Brown, Cary Jenkins, and Carl Anderson. Brian Hawkins will run unopposed. All REMC members who attend the Annual Meeting can vote for the District 3 director.
Brent Brown
Brent Brown is a resident of Orleans and a 2001 graduate of OHS. He and his wife, Emily, have two sons, Nate, age 16, and Nash, age 13. They have been owners and operators of J&S Sportswear in Orleans since 2010. A 16-year member of the United Steelworkers Union, Brown is employed by Heidelberg Materials. He is a member of the United Methodist Church, where he has served on various committees. Brown has coached baseball and basketball and has served as treasurer and president of the Orleans Summer League Board. Brown and his family are active in 4-H and have a beef cattle operation. They are also involved in competitive rodeos and open cattle shows.
Cary Jenkins
Cary Jenkins was born in Paoli to Larry Jenkins of Orleans and Marieta Chastain of Indiana. He graduated Orleans High School in 1987. Jenkins has lived in Orange County his entire life, where he started working side by side with his father doing construction (Jenkins Construction). This is how he got his start in the rental business and self-employment. Jenkins has served his community with lawn care and snow removal since 2004 as the owner and operator of Orange County Cutters. His company has several rental properties they maintain and care for, including Dutchtown Laundromat, located in Bedford, Indiana, purchased in 2016. He married his wife, Staci, in 2014, and together, they have three children and two grandchildren, Landon and Layla, who both attend Orleans Elementary.
Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson was born, raised and has lived in Orange County his entire life. He is a 1989 graduate of Paoli Community Schools and married Melissa Fleenor from Orleans in 1994. They have three children and two grandchildren — daughters Rio and Rali, son Raine, his wife Bailey, and their grandchildren, Blue and Spade. Anderson has worked for Orange County Highway Department for more than 19 years and serves as Superintendent and as the Orange County Solid Waste Director. He is a member of the Region 15 Planning Commission board, as well as the Orange County Rural Fire Board. Anderson also serves as Orleans Township Trustee, and a past six-year member of Orleans Community Schools Board of Directors.
Brian Hawkins
Brian Hawkins is the District 6 incumbent director. A board member since 2003, he has served as secretary, vice president, and president. The Paoli Jr. Sr. High School graduate formerly owned Wolfe Contracting, Inc., in Paoli. Hawkins and his wife, Nanette, have lived in the Paoli and Greenfield community for 41 years. They have one daughter, Megan, who teaches at Plainfield High School, and one granddaughter. Born and raised in Orange County, Hawkins realizes he has an obligation to all Orange County REMC members to make sound business decisions. In 2007, just four years after he was elected to the board, he completed the required courses to earn the Credentialed Cooperative Director certification. He also recently earned his Board Leadership Certification. Hawkins has spent the last three years serving on the IEC board and was recently elected to Hoosier Energy board. Hawkins is a 19-year active member of the Paoli Meridian Lions Club and attends Lost River Missionary Baptist Church. In his free time, he enjoys babysitting, spending time with friends and family, and working with his honey bees.
"We are excited to present such a strong group of candidates for our Board of Director election," said General Manager/CEO, Matt Deaton. "These individuals are committed to serving our cooperative and ensuring that we continue to provide reliable and affordable electricity to our members. We encourage all members to attend the Annual Meeting and participate in the election process."
The Annual Meeting will occur on June 7, 2024, at 8390 IN-37, Orleans, IN. Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m., and the meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. Electric members will be treated to Schnitzelbank catering and receive a foldable lawn chair as the door prize. Kirby Stailey will provide musical entertainment. Members can find more information about the candidates and the Annual Meeting at www.myremc.coop/annual-meeting.