Meet the Board of Directors

A nine-member Board of Directors leads the cooperative. Our Board members, who are also cooperative members, are elected for three-year rotating terms. Bluebonnet's electric service area is divided into seven districts, with no limitations on the number of directors from any one county (Article III, Section 1 of the Bylaws). Each district is represented by one director, except for District 3 (Bastrop County), which is represented by three directors.

 

District map

See below to find the board member who represents you.

District 5
Ben Flencher,
Chairman
District 3
Roderick Emanuel,
Vice President/Vice Chairman
District 7
Robert Mikeska,
Secretary/Treasurer
District 6
Byron Balke,
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
District 1
Milton Shaw,
Director
District 2
Shana Whiteley,
Director
District 3
Bryan Bracewell,
Director
District 3
Debbi Goertz,
Director
District 4
Russell Jurk,
Director

Board committees

Each Board member also serves on one or more of four committees that provide preliminary oversight of the cooperative's key areas of focus. The committees review projects, topics and proposed plans, then present their recommendations to the full Board.

* Board Chairman Ben Flencher is an ex-officio member of all committee.

Russell Jurk – Chair
Byron Balke
Robert Mikeska
Bryan Bracewell

The Audit and Finance Committee is responsible for selecting and recommending an independent financial auditor to the Board. The committee is also responsible for reviewing the auditor’s reports, meeting with the auditor, responding to auditor recommendations and reporting the results to the Board. The committee will also periodically review and recommend changes to the cooperative’s Board policies.

Roderick Emanuel – Chair
Milton Shaw
Shana Whiteley
Bryan Bracewell

The Member and Employee Services Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting to the Board on the cooperative’s strategy and direction related to member interactions and engagement. The committee will assist in the development and review of the cooperative’s member survey, electric rates, economic development initiatives and community involvement. They are also responsible for establishing and maintaining fair and competitive benefits for cooperative personnel and retirees. The committee receives reports from management on the performance and effectiveness of Bluebonnet’s employee benefits. Annually, it reviews Bluebonnet’s existing employee benefits, develops benefits strategies and recommends benefits package to the Board.

Robert Mikeska – Chair
Russell Jurk
Debbi Goertz
Shana Whiteley

The Energy Services Committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting to the Board on the cooperative’s strategy and direction related to power supply and electric distribution. The committee maintains a comprehensive understanding of Bluebonnet’s wholesale power contracts, opportunities for generation acquisition, wholesale market conditions and alternative generation strategies. The committee also receives reports from management concerning the performance, planning and investment in Bluebonnet’s electric distribution system.

Milton Shaw – Chair
Byron Balke
Roderick Emanuel
Debbi Goertz 

The Legal and Governance Committee oversees the cooperative’s legal functions and assists the Board in overseeing material business and operational risks and exposures. The committee provides advice and counsel to the Board and other committees on actions, activities and initiatives to mitigate these risks and exposures. It reviews significant claims and litigation with the General Counsel and receives reports from the General Counsel on material legal activities and the effectiveness of the cooperative's legal and governance efforts. The committee recommends actions and/or improvements to the Board and oversees compliance with the cooperative’s charter, bylaws and Board policies. If appropriate, it recommends amendments or changes to maintain legal and effective governance.

Board election process

The Bluebonnet Board currently has nine directors. At each Annual Meeting (held on the second Tuesday in May), members elect directors by ballot to serve for three-year terms, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Directors are elected to staggered terms, with each new director succeeding the one whose term has expired.

To run for election for director or accept nomination to run for director, a member:

  • Must be at least 21 years of age.
  • Must be in good standing with the cooperative (not be in violation of any provision of Bluebonnet’s charter, tariffs or bylaws, and not have a claim or litigation pending against the cooperative).
  • Must be of good character or general reputation, not have been convicted of violating a federal or state penal statute involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, and not have been convicted of a felony.
  • Must be a legal resident of a county in the district that is served totally or partially by the cooperative. The member need not be a resident of the portion of the county served by the cooperative. (For example, a member can live in a part of Bastrop not served by Bluebonnet but have a ranch with a Bluebonnet meter elsewhere in Bastrop County.)
  • Cannot be in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise, or a business selling electric energy or electric supplies to the cooperative, or a business primarily engaged in selling electrical appliances, fixtures or electric supplies to the members of the cooperative.
  • Cannot be an incumbent of or a candidate for an elected public office for which a salary is paid.
  • Cannot be an employee of the cooperative or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Only members who are duly nominated can be voted upon for the office of director. Candidates must use the  form provided on Bluebonnet’s website, bluebonnet.coop or available at any of the cooperative’s Member Service Centers.

The completed Application for Nomination of Candidate form must be filed in any Bluebonnet Member Service Center no later than 4 p.m. at least 90 days before the Annual Meeting. Completed applications must include either at least 50 signatures by members residing within the director district for which the election is being held, or a money order or certified check for the $250 filing fee.

To form a quorum at the Annual Meeting, at least 150 members must be present in person or represented by proxy.

Each member is entitled to one vote. Members may vote by proxy, but only if their proxy (a) is registered with the cooperative at its principal office before 5:30 p.m. on the fifth business day preceding the date of the Annual Meeting, (b) is executed by the member in writing and designates the holder thereof who is a natural person or the proxy committee to cast his or her vote, (c) specifies the particular meeting at which it is to be voted, and (d) is dated not more than 90 days prior to the date of that meeting. Any mailed proxies not otherwise dated are deemed dated as postmarked if the postmark is satisfactory evidence. Memberships in the name of non-natural members may be voted by a person duly authorized by the member, either in person or by proxy.

For more information on the Bluebonnet Board election process, see our Bylaws or contact Bluebonnet's General Counsel Sarah Newman-Altamirano.