2023 ELECTION results

During Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting on April 27, members approved the 2022 annual meeting minutes and the 2024 nominating committee members. The 2024 nominating committee will choose candidates for next year’s board of trustees election.

More than 1,360 members vote in board of trustees election

All cooperative elections are conducted by an independent third-party company. This year’s election was completed and certified by Survey and Ballot Systems. Using a third party maintains the integrity of our elections. Cooperative employees and board members do not have contact with ballots or voting results before they are announced. Our attorney receives the election results once the election closes and announces the results at our annual meeting.

All members were mailed a ballot along with biographies for each of the six candidates running for the board this year. 1,363 out of 10,372 members voted — that’s over 13% of our members! 794 voted by mail and 569 voted through the election website or through SmartHub. Members could vote for one candidate in each district. Board members represent all members, not just the members in their township or district.

Members chose Ronald G. Kolb in District 6, which includes Reily Township in Butler County. 1,257 votes were cast in this district. Member Tom Heisler also ran for election in District 6.

Ron lives in Reily Township in Butler County. He has been married to his wife, Janice, for 57 years. They have three children and six grandchildren. Ron attended Ohio State University and Miami University and completed 65 classes to earn NRECA’s Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold certificates. Ron retired from farming, where he raised hogs, beef cattle, and grain crops. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Ron was on the Butler County Fair Board for 15 years and is a former member of the Butler County Pork Producers, where he served as president and vice president. He is a member of the Reily Township Historical Society and the Franklin County Antique Machinery Club. Ron enjoys restoring John Deere lawn mowers, attending his grandchildren’s activities, traveling, and gardening.

Michael Tilton was elected in District 7, which includes Hanover and St. Clair townships in Butler County. 1,236 votes were cast in this district. Member Joseph Wolf also ran for election in District 7

Mike lives in Hanover Township in Butler County and is married to Teresa Watts Tilton. They have three kids: Laurel, Olivia, and Clark. He attended Talawanda High School and Miami University and received the highest level of NRECA’s board education ranking of Director Gold Certification.

Mike is retired after serving as Butler County’s Chief Deputy Auditor. He has been a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative board member for 20 years and has been an officer for Butler County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol since 1994. He has been chairman of Butler County Law Library’s board since 2010 and is a shooting instructor for Butler County Sharpshooters 4-H Club. Mike enjoys beekeeping, hiking, and kayaking and is the owner of the Old Barn Woodshop.

Members chose Robert Spaeth in District 8, which includes Harrison Township in Hamilton County and Morgan Township in Butler County. 1,289 votes were cast in this district. Member Larry Sutthoff also ran for election in District 8

Robert lives in Morgan Township in Butler County. He graduated from Ross High School in 1970. He is the retired owner of Spaeth Builders, which operated in Morgan, Reily, and Ross townships for many years. He is a retired member of the Morgan Ross Athletic Association after serving as a trustee for 12 years. He has been a cooperative member for 49 years and has been a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative board member for 15 years, earning the Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold certification through NRECA.

Thank you for being involved in your cooperative!

Thank you to the six members who ran in this year’s election and thank you to the members who voted. Your vote is your voice. By participating, you are part of the process to make the cooperative the best it can be.