Meet Your WEC Candidates

Special Meeting

Join us to hear the Wasco Electric Cooperative Board of Director election results on November 21, 2020, at 11 a.m. via Teleconference.

This year’s board of director elections will look a little different due to the meeting rules in place for Oregon, which led the cooperative to cancel the annual meeting.

In place of the traditional annual meeting, the co-op will hold a special meeting to elect directors, as required in the bylaws.

This year’s director election will take place by mail-in ballot only. Ballots were sent to the membership November 3.

Results of the director elections will be announced during the special teleconference on November 21 and posted on our website and social media page.

We encourage all members to keep our democratic processes strong by voting for your board of directors by mail.

District #1

Mathew Clausen — Incumbent

Mathew lives east of Dufur near Boyd and is the fifth generation to operate his family’s wheat farm, which spans from Boyd to Center Ridge and includes both Clausen and Adkisson land.

Mathew attended Dufur grade school and The Dalles High School. He went to Oregon State University and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering. From there, he worked as an engineer at Freightliner in Portland for nine years before returning to farm in 2007.

While serving on the board for the last six years, Mathew has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director series of classes and served as treasurer, and is the current secretary. He has learned a great deal about current and upcoming issues facing the power industry and Wasco Electric. He would appreciate the opportunity to apply that knowledge and experience in serving another term.

District #2

Ronald Holmes — Incumbent

Ron lives east of Kent with his wife, Linnea, and youngest daughter, Shayne. Two older daughters have graduated and live outside the area. They grow wheat, barley, and run cattle in Sherman County.

Ron grew up in Sherman County and attended Kent Grade School and Sherman High School. After high school, he attended Oregon State University and Blue Mountain Community College. He then worked on farms in Moro and The Dalles before returning to the Kent area to farm on his own.

In addition to serving as vice president of Wasco Electric, Ron serves as immediate past president on the Northwest Public Power Association Board of Trustees for Oregon. NWPPA is an association with 155 public power utilities across nine Western states and Canada. He also serves on the budget committee for Sherman County School District and is the treasurer for Kent Baptist Church. He is a former director and past president of Mid- Columbia Producers.

Ron has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director training, Board Leadership training, and the Director Gold Certificate course through the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Ron would like your vote to continue the WEC tradition of providing low-cost and reliable power to members.

District # 3

DeOra Patton — Incumbent

DeOra and her husband, Don, are lifelong residents of Maupin.

Following graduation from Wasco County Union High, she graduated from Northwestern College of Business as an assistant accounting and legal administrative assistant.

She pursued her career in public administration starting at Wasco County Columbia Basin nursing home, then retiring from the city of Maupin as recorder for 34 years.

DeOra has been a director of Wasco Electric Cooperative since 2005.

“I enjoy and care about people and our quality of living. Electricity is a highly important aspect, which has and continues to face change and complexity. I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to support and represent our interests of our cooperative in providing competitively priced, reliable energy and related services, and I look forward to continuing.”

Sylvia McCorkle

Sylvia was born and raised on a grain/alfalfa farm near Zumapine, Oregon. She attended Eastern Oregon College, majoring in creative writing.

Sylvia owns and operates McCorkle Ranch on Juniper Flat out of Maupin. This ranch has been owned and operated by a McCorkle for the past 98 years.

Sylvia is currently a board member of Juniper Flat District Improvement Co. She is a past board member of Juniper Flat Rural Fire Protection District.

Sylvia would like to serve on the board of Wasco Electric Co-op because she is dedicated to improving, maintaining, and enjoying Wasco County. She knows that even after being a resident of Wasco County for 26 years, she is still “new,” but asks that everyone recognize that “new” eyes see “old” issues in unique and unexpected ways.