More than 8,300 Vote in Election
SMECO held its 87th Annual Meeting on August 20, 2025, at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall in Mechanicsville, Md.
The following SMECO members were elected to serve on SMECO’s Board for three years: W. Michael Phipps of Calvert County, George Heinze and Richard A. Winkler of Charles County, David A. Cross, Jr. of Prince George’s County, and Scott White of St. Mary’s County.
More than 8,300 members voted in the SMECO election and results were announced at the meeting. SMECO’s election was conducted by mail and members could also vote electronically by casting their ballots online. Ballots were mailed to members on July 14. The deadline for submitting ballots by mail or electronically was August 13. Sixty-seven percent of the ballots were returned by mail and 33 percent were cast online. Members who returned their ballots or voted online were eligible to win one of 30 electric bill credits of $50 each.
W. Rayner Blair, III, Chairman of the SMECO Board of Directors, welcomed SMECO’s members to the event and called the meeting to order. SMECO’s president and CEO, Sonja Cox, introduced the video version of the cooperative’s 2024 annual report. (Watch the video.)
The video highlighted SMECO’s ongoing commitment to financial stability, reliable service, and community engagement. It also emphasized SMECO’s ongoing focus on balancing immediate member needs with long-term sustainability and resilience in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
“This past year brought significant challenges, including rising operational costs, which led to the difficult but necessary decision to request a distribution rate increase. Cost-saving initiatives helped minimize the impact on our members, while investments in system reliability, workforce development, and community support ensured we continued serving Southern Maryland effectively,” Cox said.
Cox also answered questions about Rider-G, a Standard Offer Service option available to cooperative members who choose to have 100 percent of their electricity supplied from renewable sources, as well as questions around community solar opportunities and the impact of data centers on SMECO members. She explained that SMECO is required to provide service to any person or business within its territory; however, any data centers that connect into the cooperative’s system will be responsible for covering the cost of system upgrades, the feasibility study to ensure adequate capacity, and the energy needed to power their operations.
“Looking ahead, our focus is clear: provide safe, reliable, and affordable electricity; balance member needs with long-term sustainability; and continue to invest in our people and our communities,” Cox said. “Together, we will face challenges, embrace opportunities, and celebrate the successes that make this cooperative strong.”
Below are the results of the voting.
Calvert/Anne Arundel counties (one elected)
- Michael Phipps: 4,771 votes
- Terry W. Schroepfer: 2,543 votes
Charles County (two elected)
- George Heinze: 4,127 votes
- Brandi Jones: 3,634 votes
- Matthews (Matt) Nolan Wills: 2,821 votes
- Richard A. Winkler: 4,024 votes
Prince George's County (one elected)
- David A. Cross, Jr.: 3,418 votes
- Matthew Mason: 2,029 votes
- John D. Rudzis: 1,706 votes
St. Mary’s County (one elected)
- Scott White: 6,983 votes