[Watchdogs] Larry Landaker comments regarding Board role

[larry landaker]

Now that I have completed the petition process for my filing in District 6
and have briefed myself to the extent possible about the issues at hand, I
intend to engage in the debate as the election process moves forward. It is
important for the public to know exactly where I stand on the issues and
what kind of Director I intend to become if elected.

I face as many as five opponents.  Most, if not all of them favor the
*protection
of the status quo*. Consider what one opponent, Daryl Losaw, recently told
the newspaper.

" In light of the recent lawsuit and other events that have transpired over
the last two years, the directors must now get back to business
basics.Unfortunately too much time and energy has been spent on attacking
PEC when now is the time to rebuild this organization."

To the extent possible, I would appreciate my comments receiving the widest
circulation by those of you who support me. I do not need to remind you that
the balance of power on the Board is up for grabs and unless it shifts, it
will be a long winter for the reform movement.

*My unequivocal belief is that the business of the Board is the business of
the members. Members are the owners and they deserve to be treated as
owners. There are no issues too complex for owners to understand. There is
no need for secrecy except in the case of personnel matters or in the
protection of proprietary technology or competitive trade secrets. I am for
the expansion of member rights, not board power. I support the Frasier/Rose
bill, not because I want government interference but because I want member
rights preserved in legislation. I do not trust a board of "bandits",
including the one I may join, to suddenly change its stripes. *
**
*We are a member-owned cooperative. Though we are a non-profit, we have a
fiduciary responsibility to run the PEC as a business consistent with true
democratic principles responsive to a member-owned cooperative. *

Please permit me to digress only briefly to explain what motivated me to
file and run for this seat. Like most Americans I have watched from the
sidelines as Wall Street, the banking industry, the real estate market and
our entire economy collapsed from unfettered plunder and greed. Like most
Americans I am angry and dismayed at the arrogance and intransigence
exhibited by corporate leaders who seemed deaf to our anger and continued to
pay bonuses and carry on the party with impunity. It was breathtaking to see
how insulated and out of touch these people are. I kept asking myself,
"Where are the boards of directors? It suddenly dawned on me that the boards
were acting in their own self interests. The only thing that stopped this
runaway train was the outrage of the American people. Regrettably, the
same cynical mindset that affected Enron, Wall Street, the bankers and the
American car industry extended to the Pedernales Electrical Cooperative.

I read the Navigant report and was appalled but not surprised. Rather than
tell you what you already know about the report, let me say that it proved
to be an epiphany for me.  PEC belongs to me too. Navigant motivated me to
remove myself from the sidelines and yell, "enough!" Time to do my part.

Over the next few days I will be sharing with you my thoughts on other
matters affecting the future of our cooperative. I hope you will consider
supporting me and working for my election in District 6. Feel free to call
or email me.

Larry Landaker
512-657-1787
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