PCEC Membership Election
Each year, Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative consumer-members have the opportunity to vote in the co-op’s annual membership election. Online voting for the 2026 election will be available from May 1-26. All members who vote will automatically be entered into a drawing for free energy bill credits. Ten winners will receive $200 credits and one grand prize winner will win a $1,000 credit!
Voting Instructions
Voting in PCEC’s Membership Election is an easy, secure process managed by a third-party to ensure fairness. In order to access the online ballot, you will need to know:
1) YOUR LAST NAME / BUSINESS NAME
2) YOUR MEMBER NUMBER
3) YOUR LOCATION NUMBER
The information listed above can be found on your PCEC bills or through your online billing portal. Once you have the information, cast your ballot with the green voting button below.
Mail-In Ballot Instructions
PCEC also provides members the opportunity to request a mail-in ballot.
1. Call (816) 343-4847 on or before May 8
2. Follow the voice prompt to leave your member information
3. Look for your ballot to arrive in the mail within one week
4. Fill out your co-op ballot
5. Return ballot to P.O. Box 1648, Jefferson City, MO 65102 postmarked by May 19.
Members can cast votes for one candidate from each district. All members are eligible to vote for each district race regardless of the district you live in.
Online voting has ended in the 2026 election.
Members can also vote in person from 4:30-5:30 p.m. prior to the annual Business Meeting on May 28 at PCEC’s Kearney office.
2026 Membership Election Voting Guide
2026 Membership Election Voting Guide
Introduction
Any eligible PCEC member can choose to run for the board of directors through a fair, open and transparent election process. There are four candidates on the 2026 ballot.
Three of the nine board seats are up for election each year — one from each of our three service districts. This year, incumbent board directors David Edwards and Kelly Parkhurst are up for re-election and running unopposed. In the South District incumbent Ed Barger is running against Rick Yoder.
There are no other measures on the ballot in 2026.
Campaign Finance Disclosures – New in 2026
In the 2025 election, members voted to approve third-party campaign finance disclosures. During the campaign, all signed candidate disclosure forms will be available to view for each candidate at the bottom of their profile by clicking their names to the left.
Below is the timeline for campaign finance disclosures to the cooperative:
– At the time of submitting candidate petition
– April 16, 2026: 15 days prior to the commencement of the election (the time the members are first allowed to vote)
– May 11, 2026: 10 days after the election commences, and
– May 26, 2026: the day the online election closes
NORTH DISTRICT Director candidate David Edwards is a technology professional. Edwards lives in Gower and has been a member since 2003.
How would your skills, talents or experience help shape your service on the PCEC Board of Directors?
I have over 30 years of business and leadership experience across a number of industries including manufacturing, service, software, banking and cybersecurity. During that time, I have successfully led diverse teams of production, transportation, marketing, client support and sales.
I do believe everyone brings a unique set of skills and understanding that helps strengthen teams. My experience both leading and participating on corporate teams helps me remain focused on the goal of providing excellent service and value to co-op members.
My current role involves consulting with organizations of all sizes to help them identify cybersecurity risk and implement technologies that mitigate those risks. Cybersecurity is a real threat to organizations of all sizes, and I am happy to share my experience and understanding to make the Cooperative more secure.
What would be a few of your priorities as a member of the PCEC Board of Directors?
My first priority is to ensure the long-term success of PCEC by providing oversight and guidance to the management team. One of those priorities is ensuring Platte-Clay Electric Cooperative is taking proactive steps to mitigate cybersecurity threats and minimize the potential financial and operational impact of a cyber event. Our members are the most important asset, and I believe strongly in the cooperative model. My interest is in keeping prices low and service levels high for all current and future co-op members.
What makes you a good candidate for the PCEC Board of Directors?
As a long-time Platte-Clay member, I appreciate the work that management and the Board of Directors have done to provide high-quality, affordable service. I feel it is my responsibility to continue that tradition by lending my time and expertise to Platte-Clay Electric. Having served on Platte-Clay Electric’s Board for the past four years, I feel my experience as a business leader puts me in a position to understand the regulatory, financial, security and staffing hurdles PCEC faces, and I look forward to helping continue to meet those challenges.
Were you asked by a third-party to run for the Platte-Clay Electric Board of Directors? No
Campaign Finance Documentation
Click the links below to view the signed document
Campaign Policy Acknowledgement Form
WEST DISTRICT Director candidate Kelly Parkhurst is a Banker. Parkhurst lives in Dearborn and has been a member since 1991.
How would your skills, talents or experience help shape your service on the PCEC Board of Directors?
I have an extensive background in finance and management that is very helpful as a director. I have over 39 years of experience in finance. My experience as a current director is very helpful as well.
What would be a few of your priorities as a member of the PCEC Board of Directors?
Maintain the reliability of delivering power to its members.
Maintain our strong safety record.
Develop strategies to keep power costs as low as possible.
What makes you a good candidate for the PCEC Board of Directors?
Prior board experience.
39 years of finance experience.
Extensive experience in management.
Were you asked by a third-party to run for the Platte-Clay Electric Board of Directors? No
Campaign Finance Documentation
Click the links below to view the signed document
Campaign Policy Acknowledgement Form
SOUTH DISTRICT Director candidate Ed Barger is a retired Firefighter/Battalion Chief. Barger lives in Kearney and has been a member since 2012.
How would your skills, talents or experience help shape your service on the PCEC Board of Directors?
Spending 30+ years in emergency services developed a deeply rooted sense of responsibility to serve my community in providing the highest quality service possible. That experience in delivery of highly effective services tailored to the needs of the public has transitioned into delivering a different kind of service now, less reactive and more long-term strategic planning and customer service oriented. The service to the membership commitment is the same. Much like my old career in Fire & EMS, this organization exists solely to serve the member’s interest. No personal or special interest agendas, just taking care of our membership.
What would be a few of your priorities as a member of the PCEC Board of Directors?
Firstly; Continuing to dedicate the time needed for projects, strategic planning, meetings and continuing to learn about the cooperatives system.
Secondly; Maintain our dedication meeting the goals in our comprehensive strategic planning sessions. Diligence in meeting long and short-term goals; following the action plans we have developed has made us a highly effective organization for our members.
Thirdly; Transparency and accountability to our membership. We are owned by our members, they deserve our best efforts to keep them informed.
Last but certainly not least, Employee recruitment and retention. Quality personnel is the most important asset of any organization. We have to be diligent in maintaining the highly-skilled, effective workforce that we currently enjoy.
What makes you a good candidate for the PCEC Board of Directors?
I am driven by the opportunity to serve the needs of the membership. Whether that be in attendance of board meetings, events working with and meeting with our members or in travelling to represent our cooperative on the statewide or larger scale. Having completed my Cooperative Director Certification in my first term, I continue to work on my NRECA Board Leadership Certification. Specifically, this program builds a much deeper understanding of cooperative industry governance issues. Proven diligence in furthering my understanding of industry needs and trends, governance issues, policy development and risk management practices allows me to better serve our members. All of this added to my track record of not serving personal or special interest groups makes me a great candidate to retain my seat on the Board of Directors as your South District Representative.
Were you asked by a third-party to run for the Platte-Clay Electric Board of Directors? No
Campaign Finance Documentation
Click the links below to view the signed document
Campaign Policy Acknowledgement Form
SOUTH DISTRICT Director candidate Rick Yoder is a retired professional engineer (mechanical) and consultant. Yoder lives in Excelsior Springs and has been a member since 2020.
How would your skills, talents or experience help shape your service on the PCEC Board of Directors?
I retired in 2020 after a career as a professional engineer, where I worked with small businesses and communities to improve energy efficiency and control costs without sacrificing reliability. That experience taught me to study the details, ask practical questions, and look for solutions that make financial sense.
Over the years, I’ve served on several boards, including a large public power utility, a school board, and nonprofit organizations. In each role, the responsibility was the same: protect the interests of the people being served and make thoughtful, long-term decisions.
As a PCEC member-owner, I understand this cooperative belongs to us. My technical background helps me understand the industry, and my board experience has prepared me to provide careful oversight. I would bring steady judgment, common sense, and a genuine commitment to serving fellow members.
What would be a few of your priorities as a member of the PCEC Board of Directors?
If elected, my focus would be straightforward: protect member interests today while planning wisely for tomorrow.
I would want to fully understand the reasons behind the last rate increase and ensure costs are being managed carefully. Members deserve clear communication and confidence that their cooperative is spending responsibly.
I also believe PCEC can continue strengthening programs that help members manage their own energy use. Voluntary efficiency efforts, demand management options, and thoughtfully designed opportunities for member-owned distributed energy resources can help control costs when structured fairly and based on sound economics.
Finally, reliable service requires steady investment and long-term planning. I would support a balanced approach that keeps our system dependable while preparing thoughtfully for future needs.
My goal is simple: keep PCEC reliable, affordable, and responsive to the members who own it.
What makes you a good candidate for the PCEC Board of Directors?
I am running because I believe in the cooperative model and the responsibility that comes with serving fellow member-owners.
As a retiree, I have the time to prepare thoroughly and stay engaged in the work of the Board. Important decisions about rates, infrastructure, and long-term planning deserve careful attention.
I bring a practical, “Show Me” mindset. I believe in asking thoughtful questions, reviewing the facts, and making decisions based on what best serves members – not simply relying on past practice.
In addition to my professional experience, I am active in the community through a leadership role in our local Rotary Club, part of Rotary International. Service to others has been a consistent theme throughout my life.
At the end of the day, I’m a member-owner who wants to see our cooperative remain strong, reliable, and well-managed for the next generation.
Were you asked by a third-party to run for the Platte-Clay Electric Board of Directors? No
Campaign Finance Documentation
Click the links below to view the signed document
Campaign Policy Acknowledgement Form