Reformers Sweep Cobb EMC Elections

Cobb EMC reformers achieved a clean sweep in Saturday’s elections for four board positions after incumbent R.J. Patel of Area 7 conceded defeat Monday rather than force a runoff next month.

Saturday's elections at represented the first of three rounds for Cobb EMC's board as it tries to rebuild its reputation after a 2007 customer lawsuit and the indictment of its former CEO.

Fourteen candidates, including incumbents Patel and Henry Balkcom III, were on the ballot for the board seats from Areas 1, 6, 7 and 10.

All Cobb EMC members were eligible to vote for the directors from all areas.

Les Wilson, an organizer of the Cobb EMC Owners Association, one of three groups working for change at the co-op, said the election produced results in excess of 70 percent for his association’s endorsed candidates, with the exception of Area 7, where the association’s candidate, Charles Malcolm Swanson, fell just short of a majority with 49.47 percent of the votes among seven candidates.

That set up a runoff with his closest competitor, incumbent Patel, who got less than 15 percent of the votes.

Patel conceded Monday, the Marietta Daily Journal reported.

"It is our hope that he will concede the runoff and avoid the almost $170,000 that it will cost our EMC to stage that event. With his results being 354 votes out of a total of 2,471, it does not bode well for an eventual victory," Wilson said before Patel announced his decision. "We will continue to prepare for a runoff but will also be offering him a solution and graceful exit platform if he so chooses."

Swanson joins Area 1’s Ed Crowell, Area 6’s David Tennant and Area 10’s Cheryl Meadows as newly elected Cobb EMC board members. They are due to be sworn in Nov. 22, the MDJ said.

Cobb EMC members will vote Feb. 18 on directors for Areas 2, 3 and 9 and May 12 on directors for Areas 4, 5 and 8.