Show up and vote for your next director-at-large during the Annual Meeting the evening of Sept. 14, at the Corn Palace in Mitchell. Attendees should arrive for a meal and registration from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The director-at-large seat is being vacated by Jim Headley of White Lake who announced he does not plan to run for reelection after serving 25 years on the board.
Eligible registered members may vote in-person for one candidate. You can read more below about the two candidates vying for the director-at-large seat. They are listed in ballot order. The successful candidate will be announced during the official business meeting that evening.
Primary Residence: Rural Mitchell, Davison County.
Family: Spouse Diane, three children, six grandchildren.
Candidate Summary: I grew up in Sanborn County and our family ranch was served by Intercounty Electric. After building our home outside Mitchell in 1993, we became members of Central Electric.
My life’s work has been maintaining and building the transmission infrastructure which serves Central Electric. I have also built strong relationships with members that we served, as well as with the employees that work for the co-op presently and others who have worked there throughout the years.
If I were elected to serve as a director, I could bring my practical expertise to enhance the co-op and the membership. I truly believe in the seven principles that cooperatives are founded on and desire to help promote and sustain the future of our electric cooperatives. This is why I am interested in serving as Central Electric’s director-at-large.
Work Experience: East River Electric Power Cooperative, 1978-2021; Started as Maintenance Lineman, then promoted to Maintenance Foreman serving the co-ops of Central, Douglas, Bon Homme, Southeastern and Charles Mix. I also own and operate a small farm raising cattle, hay and row crops.
Education: Western Area Power Administration Communication Substation Training, Commercial Driver License, Commercial Pesticide Applicator’s License, Certified Crane Operator, 811 Certification, Merchant Power Line Job Training and Safety Programs Graduate, Mitchell Area VoTech Power Line Program Graduate, Mitchell Area VoTech Auto/Diesel Program Graduate.
Boards and committees served on: East River Electric Safety Committee, East River Employee’s Committee and East River Line Patrol Charity Committee. Member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Parish Council and Stewardship Committee. Artesian Community Improvement Association Treasurer. Mitchell Township Board Treasurer. Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) member.
Scott Kolousek
Primary Residence: Rural Wessington Springs, Jerauld County.
Family: Spouse Amber, four children, one of whom is deceased.
Candidate Summary: As a young producer with multiple meters in the system, I feel it’s important to keep control of decision making to those affected most by the co-op. Being 46, I can offer many years of service to the board.
My wife and I believe the younger generation needs to step up and get involved in organizations and committees because we are building our future with the decisions being made.
Work Experience: After graduating from South Dakota State University in 1996, I came home to farm with my dad and uncle. Since then, it has transitioned from my father and mother over to my wife and I. We run a diversified cow-calf operation near the wind farm north of White Lake.
Education: Wessington Springs High School and South Dakota State University.
Boards and committees served on: Central Electric’s Operation Round-Up Board of Trustees since its inception, being chairman for most of that time. Grand Knight, Knights of Columbus Council (current). District 2 representative on South Dakota Farmers Union state board (current).