One of our core cooperative principles is Democratic Member Control, which means you, the members, choose the people who govern the cooperative. In July, voting opens for this year’s election for the board of trustees, a group of nine individuals from nine districts who provide vision, guidance, and oversight in the running of our co-op. We encourage everyone to get to know the candidates through the profiles below and mailed ballot information, and to vote. We make it easy, offering voting online and by mail, and results will be announced at our annual meeting on August 13.

We also encourage our members to attend the annual meeting to get to know the co-op’s board, leadership, and employees, and welcome the chance to meet face-to-face and appreciate hearing your thoughts and opinions as engaged members.

2026 Board of trustees candidates

Ron Hatfield of Waterloo, Ohio, and his wife, Lisa, reside on State Route 141. A third-generation member of Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative, Ron has been a member since 1987 and has received electric service from Buckeye for nearly 40 years. He has served on the Board of Trustees since 2020.

Hatfield attended Symmes Valley High School and Ashland Community and Technical College. He has dedicated much of his life to public service, serving as an elected Township Trustee for 37 years and as a school bus driver for 32 years. He has also worked for 15 years as a Lawrence County Deputy Dog Warden and Dog Warden. In addition, Ron has been a member of the Waterloo Masonic Lodge for 38 years and has served as an elected Lawrence County committee person for 24 years, reflecting his long-standing commitment to his community.

Ron currently serves on the Audit, Annual Meeting, and Trustee Expense Committees. He has earned his Director Gold Credential, the highest level of certification for a cooperative director, and continues to stay engaged in ongoing education to better serve the membership.

Ron values being actively involved and believes in listening to the facts to make informed, thoughtful decisions. He appreciates the opportunity to serve the members of Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative and remains committed to ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed as the cooperative plans for the future.

Donald “Gene” Myers of Waterloo, Ohio, is an active member of the community with a strong interest in agriculture and youth development. He is a member of the Farm Bureau and has previously served as a 4-H advisor. Gene enjoys spending time with his grandchildren and, in his free time, raises show cattle and small animals and enjoys golfing.

When asked about the biggest challenges facing the electric industry, Gene pointed to rising energy costs, the need for grid modernization, cybersecurity threats, and supply chain demands, as well as the impact of renewable energy on reliability, affordability, and long-term planning.

Gene’s vision for the cooperative is a resilient and innovative organization that continues to deliver reliable and affordable power, while expanding smart-grid technology and strengthening community partnerships. He believes his leadership experience, sound decision-making skills, and commitment to serving members would allow him to be an effective voice for Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative members.

Tim Massie has been a lifelong resident of Gallia County, where he has remained deeply involved in his community. He graduated from Gallia Academy High School and returned four years later to begin a long career in education, serving as a vocational agriculture instructor for thirteen years, a guidance counselor for three years, assistant high school principal for sixteen years, and high school principal for three years.

Tim has been a director of the Gallia County Junior Fair Board since 1980, serving as president for five years, treasurer for three years, and currently in his thirty-eighth year as secretary. He was elected to the Ohio Fair Managers Association in 1994, where he served as a district director for ten years and held officer roles including 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, President, and Immediate Past President, and now continues to serve as a past president. He also volunteered as an Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary officer for more than fifteen years, averaging nearly 300 hours annually. Tim currently serves on the Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp Board and was a member of the Gallipolis Area Jaycees for sixteen years. In addition, he has been engaged in farming his entire life, most recently focusing on grain and hay production.

A third-generation member of Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative, Tim has been a member since 1986 and is currently serving his fourth year as a director. He serves on the Audit, Annual Meeting, Trustee Expense, and Capital Credit Committees. Tim is committed to continuous learning, having earned both his Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate and Board Leadership Certificate, and is currently working toward his Director Gold Credential — the highest level of certification for a cooperative director. He appreciates the opportunity to serve the members of the cooperative, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed, and looks forward to continuing in this role.

Wesley “Wes” Williams resides on Straight Creek Road in Waverly and has been a Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative member since 1993. He graduated from Shawnee State University with a bachelor’s degree in business. Wes is employed by Waverly City Schools and has also owned and operated his own business for the past 35 years.

Wes has proudly served on the BREC Board of Trustees since being elected in 1996 and currently serves as First Vice President. Throughout his tenure, he has been actively involved on the Policy Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and Capital Credits Committee. He has completed the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association programs for Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold, demonstrating his commitment to strong cooperative governance.

His dedication to the community extends beyond the co-op, as a past board member of the Pike Heritage Museum and has been chairman of the Pike County Planning Commission for 29 years. Wes remains committed to addressing the challenges facing rural electric cooperatives by staying engaged at the local, state, and national levels, and says he truly enjoys serving our member-owners.