MEET THE CANDIDATES

District 8

Education

Graduated from Ross High School in 1970.

Employment

Retired owner of Spaeth Builders, operating in Morgan, Reily, and Ross townships for many years.

Leadership and community activities

Retired member of the Morgan Ross Athletic Association after serving as a trustee for 12 years. Have been a cooperative member for 49 years and have been a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative director for 15 years, earning the Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold certification through NRECA.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

I look forward to having the opportunity to continue representing the cooperative at annual, regional, and monthly meetings and continuing to serve the interests of the cooperative.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative?

The major issues the cooperative board should address include the need for the education of the members about the functions of the cooperative and the importance of each member’s involvement in that process. The biggest challenge is the global impact of the regulations governing the energy production of that industry.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

I want to continue to address legislative issues facing the energy industry.

Family

My wife, Karen, and I have been customers of the cooperative for 33 of our 39 years of marriage. We have two sons and two granddaughters.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Cincinnati.

Employment

I retired in November 2022 after 26 years with the former AK Steel where I managed the transportation department. I also worked for 18 years for GE and Cincinnati Milacron. I am currently a self-employed woodworker.

Leadership and community activities

We are members of Crosby Community Church and volunteer working concessions and provide field maintenance for Upwards Soccer. I also transport food from donor locations to the church’s Food Ministry.

What do you do in your free time?

When not woodworking for fun or profit, I assist in the fulltime day care of our granddaughters. We also enjoy gardening.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

The cooperative has provided great service, especially during the straight-line wind event of 2007. I think my 40plus years business experience provides a well-rounded background that could be beneficial to the cooperative.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative? Although supportive of alternative energy development, I feel very strongly that establishing hard date phaseout of fossil fuels, before perfecting alternative technologies, is dangerous, irresponsible, and counter to the cooperative’s mission to provide affordable energy. I am also concerned about the fragility of the grid with the recent attacks on electrical substations.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

Being self-employed, I set my own schedule and will always be accessible to the membership. I truly like meeting people where I learn more by listening rather than speaking.