CLEVELAND, Okla. -- Indian Electric Cooperative has announced a vacancy on the board of directors following the resignation of District 7 Director Chris Hudgins.

Hudgins has served IEC members well, and the cooperative would like to offer its public appreciation for his dedication, time and efforts to ensure the co-op is moving in the right direction.

Hudgins’ resignation comes after he relocated his residence to another district in IEC's service area. IEC board members must live within the boundaries of the district in which they were elected, so Hudgins offered official notice at the December board meeting and it was accepted by his peers. Hudgins first was appointed to the board in 2022 following the death of Gary McBride. He completed McBride's term and was elected to a three-year term in 2023.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the members, and I learned a lot while I was here," Hudgins told the board at its December meeting. "The board has a lot of responsibility to members, and I'm proud of the things we've accomplished during my time."

If you are interested in a nomination to the IEC Board of Directors for District 7, you must come to the Cleveland headquarters to obtain a questionnaire and verify you live in the district. The questionnaire will help you gauge if the position is a fit for you and it also outlines the qualifications for service. The form must be returned to the CEO by January 3, 2025 at 4:30 p.m.

Those who meet the qualifications will be interviewed in January by the current board members, who will vote on the appointment.

The seat for District 7 is an unexpired term ending in Spring 2026. If you have any questions about the process, please call Brandi Ball at 918-295-9556.