Email Stephen

 Scroll Down to Bottom to see my responses to the Red Oak Record inquiry about HILCO.
Other Recent HILCO Related Articles
Click to Volunteer or Donate to the American Red Cross

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Thank you for visiting www.stephenpape.com

HILCO Ballots were in mail boxes today. Please take time to complete yours!

Well, they fired off both barrels yesterday, by mail and by blitzing neighborhoods. One thing I note is that everything he (they) have sent is their own version of things. There is not a record that can be cited to back up claims made because the only record of Board actions (meeting minutes) is very un-detailed and practically hidden. So when my opponent implies his involvment in providing Capital refunds over the last six years (when he has only been on the Board for one) he thinks he can do so without anyone calling him on it. Also, as for the implication that he had something to do with the Coop Connections card, which was developed by a third party (Touchstone Energy) and was introduced by HILCO's Board at least a month before he joined the Board, with no Board record to check facts, he has implied credit for that too. Lastly, the claim that the Board asked him to serve another year is suspect while a couple of them doing so individually is likely what happened. I went to the HILCO offices, sat in the GM's office, and read the minutes and the only Motion I recall him making all year was the one to raise our electricity rates. But for some reason, he chose not to mention that on his brochure which says his top priority is keeping the electricity on "With LOW rates".

This is why we need OPEN GOVERNMENT at HILCO and this is what I will work for if elected.

If elected, I will post my expenditures and give details of the decisions we make on my own website until the Board agrees to allow this information to be posted on the www.HILCO.Coop website. For example, if I go on a trip representing the COOP, you will know that I went and you will also know if my wife went, and you will know how much it cost the members of HILCO. If my opponent goes, or any other member of the Board, under their current arrangement, you will never hear about it. Any wonder why there was some other Board members involved in the last minute brochure blitz in District 1? There is a lot of past and future Board secrecy at stake.

I have faith in the wisdom of the Voters and look forward to serving as your new independent District 1 Director if chosen to serve. Based on the efforts exerted, I think the election could be very close and every vote cast could sway the winning count from one candidate to the other.

If you have any questions you need answered prior to casting your vote, please feel free to email me and I'll respond promptly.

I want to say thank you again for taking your time to read what I have had to say about HILCO and for considering giving your support to me for the District 1 Director position. HILCO is a great organization with a long history of providing a high level of electrical and customer service. The owners of the Coop (you, me, and 20,000+ others) should continue to expect the highest levels in caring, service, and integrity. I am asking the District 1 members to elect me to the Board because I think I can make a positive difference in these three areas for the Board (in caring, in service, and in integrity).

Three of the things I would do include:

1. I want to help the Board become more accessible and more accountable to the HILCO membership if I am elected to serve the next three years.

2. I will work to be a good corporate governance example to the other Board members by allowing my contact information as well as my expenditures to be made available to any member who requests that information.

3. Also, I will propose that we begin to post all meeting minutes onto the HILCO website.

Below is a list of some of my background activities and experiences that I think will help me to become a very good HILCO representative.

Formal Education

2007 Master in Business Administration from Texas A&M-Commerce
1985 Bachelor of Science (Physics) from Southern Nazarene University
1981 Graduated from DeSoto High School, Texas

Certifications and Licenses

Licensed Master Electrician
Licensed Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor
Certified Home Energy Rater

Some Committees and Boards I have served on:

Bear Creek Baptist Church (Administration Committee, Church Council, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher)
Oak Leaf Planning Committee (Chairman)
Texas State Air Conditioning Contractors Association (TACCA) (Legislative Chairman)
North Texas Air Conditioning Contractor's Association (ACCA-NTX) (President 2004, Legislative Chairman)
Red Oak ISD Growth Management Committee
Red Oak ISD Education Foundation
DeSoto ISD Strategic Planning Committee
Red Oak ISD Strategic Planning Committee
Glenn Heights Planning and Zoning Committee
Glenn Heights City Council (Mayor 1996-2000)
Glenn Heights Chamber of Commerce Board (President- 3 different terms)

Current Activities:

Pape Air Conditioning Company: Manage the family air conditioning, heating, and electrical business in DeSoto.
Bear Creek Baptist Church: Teach youth Sunday School, Serve as a Deacon, Serve on Church Council and Administration Committee.
American Red Cross: Serve as a Disaster Team Leader primarily covering Ellis County, and I am actively pursuing training necessary for Government Liaison activities.

When you receive your ballot, I would appreciate you taking the time to vote for me, Stephen Pape, to serve the next three years as your HILCO Board Representative.

Thank you for taking the time to vote! Stephen Pape

Important upcoming election dates:

September 5th is the likely Ballot mailing date.
September 24th is the last day for the COOP to receive ballots by return mail. So please return you ballots a few days early if using the mail!
September 25th is the Annual Meeting where votes can be cast in person.
Evening of September 25th, Ballots are counted and Election results are announced.

Again, I would appreciate your vote allowing me to represent you for the next three years.

 

Email Stephen

 

 

This is my response to questions posed by Megan Gray of the Red Oak Record Newspaper.

1. Why are you running?

HILCO is a great organization with a long history of providing a high level of electrical and customer service. The owners of the Coop should continue to expect the highest levels in caring, service, and integrity. I am asking the District 1 members to elect me to the Board because I think I can make a positive difference in these three areas.

2. What are your top three platform issues?

1. I want to help the Board become more accountable and accessible to the members that they represent. I will do this first by setting an example by making my Board decisions and Director expenditures available to any member who requests that infomation.
2. Second, I see my responsibility as being an ambassador between the Coop and members (and future potential members). I think my contacts with area cities, school districts, and neighborhoods will enable me to hear any member concerns and help set policy that is user friendly and fair to all of our members.
3. I want to lead the Board of Directors to voluntarily adhere to the principles of the Texas Open Meetings Act including publishing a record of meetings (Board Minutes) on the HILCO website so that members will be able to know what their elected representatives are doing with the power we have been granted.

3. Can you give more details about how HILCO works for the readers who might not yet be familiar with them?

First, HILCO is a non-profit organization which has consistently been able to deliver power to its member/owners at a lower cost than any of the competing for profit electric providers in this area. You can think of HILCO like a medium sized City. Just as a City Council hires a City Manager to oversee the daily operation of the City, the HILCO Board hires a General Manager to oversee the daily operation of the Coop. Also, as a City manager hires all of the other employees of a City, the GM is responsible for the hiring and oversight of all HILCO employees. The Board meets as needed to review and establish policy just as a City Council meets to set policy through resolutions and ordinances. One of the key activities of the Board is the setting of tarrifs (electric rates) which is based on the Coop's cost of electricity as well as the cost of HILCO's operations. With over $60 million in revenue and over 20,000 members, the Coop is a rather large non-profit organization that needs an educated and engaged Board of Directors. The Board is made up of 7 individuals elected from 7 districts across the service area. Each elected Director serves a three year term. If a vacancy occurs, the remaining 6 Board members choose someone to fill that position until the three year term is expired. HILCO also manages a for profit entity called HILCO United Services. This company's primary business is the sale of propane. However, it also oversees other business interests including management of several private water systems in the HILCO service area. The HILCO Board of Directors provide policy over United Services as well.

4. Any additional comments you would like to say to our readers?

HILCO purchases most of its power from Brazos Electric Coop and then sells it to the members. HILCO has no direct generation capabilities but does elect representatives to serve on other Coops including Brazos to oversee HILCO's interests. There are 7 founding principles of Electric Coops. One of these principles is "Democratic Member Control". Beginning September 5th, the members of HILCO will be given the opportunity to exert this control and I hope they collectively choose to put their trust in me to represent District 1 for the next three years.

.

.

.

.