Candidates for Board of Trustee in District 3 will be elected by members at the Annual Meeting on June 24, 2026 at OSUIT. Every co-op member may vote for a representative for each co-op district. 

A blind ballot draw held on May 21, 2026 determined the order in which candidates appear on the ballot, in the Official Notice, and in this Q&A. All candidates were asked to respond to the same set of questions. These are their responses below, in their own words. 

Adam Hamilton

Twin Hills

Operations Manager in Manufacturing

• Why are you interested in being a Trustee for East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc.?
  • "I want to help ensure our communities continue receiving reliable and affordable electric service. I believe strong community leadership and responsible decision-making are important to protecting the interests of the members and planning for future growth. Serving as a trustee would give me the gracious opportunity to give back to the community while supporting the long-term achievements of the cooperative."
• State any specific knowledge or expertise you bring with you to the Board, including any other governance or policy-making boards or committees on which you've served. 
  • "As an Operations Manager in manufacturing, I bring experience in leadership, budgeting, safety, and operational efficiency. I understand the importance of reliable electric service and long-term infrastructure planning to support businesses and communities. My background in problem-solving and managing day-to-day operations would help me contribute practical insight and responsible decision-making to the cooperative board."
• Please state your vision for the future of the electric utility industry and ECE's role in the industry.
  • "Continue improving reliability, affordability, and infrastructure while utilizing new technologies and preparing for the energy needs of our communities. I believe ECE should continue playing a strong role by continuing improvements, maintaining dependable service, and making responsible financial decisions that benefit its members. As the industry changes, it will be important for ECE and the industry to remain focused on the future."
• Please list any additional community activities or information you would like to share with members?
  • "I appreciate the work that East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc. has done over the years to provide dependable service and support to our local communities. The cooperative has consistently shown a commitment to its members through investments in reliability, safety, and community involvement. It's clear that East Central Electric truly cares about the people and the communities it serves. I would be humbled and honored to serve the members of ECE and continue to build on this legacy and do even more for our communities."

John Paul Porter

Boynton

Retired Firefighter

• Why are you interested in being a Trustee for East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc.?
  • "To work for the members of ECE. To ensure the co-op is able to provide electric at an affordable price."
• State any specific knowledge or expertise you bring with you to the Board, including any other governance or policy-making boards or committees on which you've served. 
  • "Understanding some of the processes it takes to stay in operation, such as tree trimming and spraying, right-of-ways. Also negotiations for fair prices for equipment, materials, other products for the co-op."
• Please state your vision for the future of the electric utility industry and ECE's role in the industry.
  • "As for the future, ECE should keep making improvements on the grid such as upgrading substations, help members figure out how to use less electric in their homes to resolve some of the strain put on our grid."
• Please list any additional community activities or information you would like to share with members?
  • "I've lived in District 3 for 50 years, within one mile of where I grew up, working on the family farm and the Okmulgee Fire Department for 25 years. I enjoy working with others on finding solutions for problems and getting them resolved. I have been an ECE member for more than 30 years. I've been married to my wife for 14 years and we have four children. Brooke King, Madison King, Kaleb Porter, and Konner Porter. I enjoy hunting, fishing, and square dancing, and serve as the president of the club Twilights & Twisters."

James Allred

Morris

Financial Advisor, Rancher

• Why are you interested in being a Trustee for East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc.?
  • "I live and work in the community and have been an integral part of the decision-making process that affects many of my fellow community members and families over the past couple of decades and I believe that this is another way for me to be able to continue to serve my fellow community members and families."
• State any specific knowledge or expertise you bring with you to the Board, including any other governance or policy-making boards or committees on which you've served. 
  • "Formerly I ran a construction company that specialized in concrete structures such as saferooms, slabs, and foundations. I have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and an associates degree in surveying, and I currently work in the finance industry with licenses and registration on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ. I have served on the Morris Public Schools Board for 15 years; the FSA Board for one term; as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation NRCS Commissioner; as the Oklahoma Association of Conservation District (OACD) District 3 Representative, and on the Okmulgee County Cattleman's Association."
• Please state your vision for the future of the electric utility industry and ECE's role in the industry.
  • "As demand for power increases and our community continues to grow and technology increases, I believe that it is important that we are able to prepare for the future by continuing to keep up with trends that are appropriate for our community. With this in mind, ECE will need to be able to keep pace while continuing to provide the excellent service that their community has grown accustomed to."
• Please list any additional community activities or information you would like to share with members?
  • "I am a proud citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribe. I have been married to my wife Ronda for 33 years and we have raised 3 children on our family farm south of Morris. Our sons are Riley, Ryan, and Jace, and our bonus son, Paul. We run a small cow/calf operation of approximately 100 cows.  Formerly I was the President/CEO of Sooner Saferooms Inc., a business that I ran along with my partner Clarence LeBlanc for 15 years. While running that business, I also coached little league baseball and youth wrestling. Although I have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering, I work as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones in Okmulgee. I believe that my past work experience and education along with insight of our diverse community allow me to have a unique insight that has proven valuable to the decision-making process."

Jeremy Wade

Morris

Law Enforcement / Public Safety

• Why are you interested in being a Trustee for East Central Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Inc.?
  • "Public utilities are an asset to everyday life. While I have been a member of East Central Electric (ECE), I have seen firsthand the quality of products that ECE has provided not only to its members, but to others outside of ECE boundaries. ECE has a solid footprint in our society that has been well established by the board of trustees and its employees. As a member, it is my responsibility to do my part in assisting the members and employees of ECE as well as ECE itself by continuing to set the standard as a professional organization. I fully understand challenging decisions are not always easy decisions and furthermore that I have the capabilities to make a positive contribution."
• State any specific knowledge or expertise you bring with you to the Board, including any other governance or policy-making boards or committees on which you've served. 
  • "My career has been well proven in a team environment. Throughout my career, I have had multiple leadership positions where I have been responsible for matters on a large scale. The knowledge I have gained in overseeing complex situations has been an integral part of my success. I fully understand that one person can play a valuable part to a team but also can be a hinderance if not done correctly. Being able to cooperate well with others, be an example for the professional organization, as well as being a reliable representative to the members is what I can offer if selected. For the last 22 years I have been in law enforcement. During my career, I have worked with others to establish policies and standard operating procedures that not only helped the employees but the agencies as well. Checks and balances are a constant juggle in the business to run fluid and successful. I served on my church board for approximately four years. Part of these duties were to oversee the church and its members. I served for several years on the Morris FFA/4H Booster Club board. Again, the bigger responsibility of the board was governing finances to best support the student members and school while working within those means."
• Please state your vision for the future of the electric utility industry and ECE's role in the industry.
  • "I have had the privilege of speaking with members of ECE as well as non-members. I have had utilities provided by other companies throughout my life. The knowledge I have gained from those conversations and from individual experiences show proof that ECE is ahead of the curve. It is imperative that ECE continues to set the bar as a public utility company in providing a successful atmosphere for employees to thrive and also quality, reliable products for the members. ECE recently has shown its ability to have successful communication with its members and employees. It is imperative that the open communication providing details to the people who make up ECE continues. Communication is one of the greatest tools a company can have that provides value to its members and it must continue to play a constant role in the organization's success."
• Please list any additional community activities or information you would like to share with members?
  • "Nothing is successfully accomplished without hard work. Having said that, hard work has been part of my everyday life. After high school, I attended college earning my bachelor's degree. That hard work continued in my career where I have served the public for most of my adulthood. Being a public servant has been a calling that has provided a voice for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. Being a board member for ECE is no different in that it too is a servant's position. My career has instilled core values of Honesty, Integrity, Professionalism, and Honor to name a few. Those same characteristics continue to drive me and play an everyday role in my career and are the same characteristics that I will stand for ECE with if selected."