2026 TRUSTEE ELECTION
May 6 - June 5
There are three ways member can cast their vote in the trustee election.
- Login to SmartHub and click the Vote Now button to be directed to your ballot
- Click the VOTE NOW button below to vote online using your username and password found on your paper ballot
- Mail in your paper ballot
All votes must be cast by midnight on June 5
To give you the confidence to vote we have included a lengthy trustee biography for each candidate from the two districts up for election.
SMARTHUB
Vote Smart
Members can log in to their SmartHub account on a mobile device or desktop computer, click on the Vote Now button, and open their election ballot. There is no need to remember your election PIN included on the paper ballot because your PIN is linked directly to your SmartHub account. SmartHub votes must be cast before midnight on June 5.
ONLINE
Vote Online
Instructions for voting online will be included with the voting information mailed to you. To vote online, members must have their PIN number, which is included on their paper ballot. Online votes must be cast before midnight on June 5.
Paper Ballot
Snail mail
Each membership will receive a ballot in the mail. You will find voting instructions and trustee candidate biographies included with the ballot. All paper ballots must be received by June 5.
DISTRICT 2 CANDIDATES
Phil Alstaetter grew up on Logan County Electric Cooperative lines and became a member of the co-op in 2004. He graduated from Bellefontaine High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilmington College. Altstaetter works as crop nutrient manager at Sunrise Cooperative.
“As a lifelong resident of Logan County, I know the cooperative and community well. My 26 years of experience with Sunrise, a farm supply cooperative, gives me a great working knowledge of how cooperatives work and what it takes for a business to be successful.”
If elected to the board, Phil is determined to keep the co-op serving the co-op members. “For me, the board must stay focused on our members and keep the power on for them. There are three issues of importance to me: 1. The power must stay on. 2.The power must be produced as affordably as possible. 3. The power must be produced as responsibly as possible.”
Phil is an active member of the local community, attending St. Mary’s of the Woods Catholic Church, involved as President of Indian Lake FFA alumni club, and a member of Logan County Cattle Association. “I want to serve as a trustee because I feel it is very important to give back to the community where you are able. I greatly appreciate how well the co-op keeps the power on for everyone and I would like to help ensure that continues in the future.
Kevin Barth loves the outdoors and enjoys spending time with his family. He joined the co-op 16 years ago when he built their home in rural Logan County. Kevin has been employed at Honda for 28 years in various leadership roles. He currently leads the CAPEX procurement team, responsible for sourcing, cost negotiations, and investment projects across Honda’s U.S. facilities.
If elected to the board, Kevin looks forward to bringing new ideas and a fresh perspective. One priority would be a comprehensive security audit of the LCEC network, data management, and overall cyber assets. This would include benchmarking other co-ops to ensure we are applying lessons learned and best practices within the industry.
He also believes the board needs to prioritize educating our legislators on the rapid expansion of data centers in Ohio. Kevin believes the board should advocate for balanced policies that would protect members from rising costs while ensuring grid stability and long-term energy security.
Kevin is active in his church and in the community, serving on the Indian Lake School District Advisory Committee and has served on the LCEC nominating committee. He has also completed the LCEC pre-boarding course developed for prospective board candidates. “My primary focus as a trustee will be to maintain our reliable supply of electricity at an affordable cost while we continue to provide our members with the same excellent member service that we have enjoyed for many years.”
DISTRICT 3 CANDIDATE
Jim Rice describes himself as approachable, nonjudgmental, friendly, and easy to talk to. Rice joined the cooperative in 1988 and was elected to the board in 2011. Rice has earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold certificates.
Rice understands the cooperative business model because he sold to a milk co-op and worked with other farmers for a common cause. He will use this experience to keep service and members as the top priority and keep rates low by optimizing management decisions.
Rice believes he is the right person to be a trustee. As a trustee, he has learned from retired trustees, remembers the history, and wants to keep it going.
If elected to the board, Rice would like to keep a safe working environment for the employees. He will also work to ensure members are served equally, while seeking economic growth for the co-op’s service territory. He desires to keep the co-op locally controlled and not consolidate with another cooperative. Rice has been involved in the community by serving as a Bokescreek Township trustee, on the Ben Logan athletic boosters, as a youth baseball coach, and as past president of the West Mansfield conservation club. Rice says, “Being such a small co-op, you are deciding issues that affect thousands of you friends and neighbors. I keep them in mind when I make decisions knowing that a knock on your front door may be a neighbor asking a question about rates or service.”