Petition for NAEC director available;
please contact NAEC to review qualifications
The North Arkansas Electric Cooperative bylaws allow for the membership to make nominations by petition. A PDF that includes the petition for NAEC director position, petitioner’s verification form, director qualifications list and petition signature form is available for download here. A packet with the same information also is available at any NAEC office during regular business hours.
Members interested in submitting a petition are highly encouraged to call (870) 895-3221 or visit NAEC’s Salem office during regular business hours so that an NAEC employee can answer any questions about the process, particularly the director qualifications, which are listed below.
The person seeking nomination must submit a petitioner’s verification form and a petition with the required number of signatures by close of business April 24, 2026, to the secretary at NAEC’s Salem office.
Signatures then will be validated by NAEC personnel. Please note that members signing the petition must reside within the county from which the director is being elected. (For the at-large director position, members may reside in any county.) NAEC recommends that anyone seeking a nomination collect more than 100 signatures to ensure the required number is reached in case some signatures are not validated. If submitted prior to the deadline and time allows, NAEC personnel will return a petition lacking 100 validated signatures to the person seeking nomination for completion by the deadline.
Again, NAEC personnel are available at the Salem office and by calling (870) 895-3221 to assist any member interested in submitting a petition.
Director Qualifications
Article IV, Section 3 of the NAEC bylaws
In order to become eligible to become and to continue to serve as a director, the person must:
- be a member of the Cooperative for two years and receive electric service at their place of residence in the county which they represent;
- be a citizen of the United States of America;
- be a member of the cooperative in good standing. As used herein, the term “good standing” shall mean that a director shall have no more than three delinquent monthly service bills within the preceding twenty-four month period;
- not in any way be employed or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative;
- not have a spouse employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative;
- not currently be employed or have been employed within the past three years, in any capacity with the Cooperative or any subsidiaries;
- not have a spouse currently employed or have been employed with the past three years, in any capacity with the Cooperative or any subsidiaries;
- not have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty within the ten prior years to the date of the election, unless the candidate has received a pardon for such conviction;
- not have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty, while serving as a director; and
- be in compliance with all other provisions of the bylaws and policies of the Cooperative and the Board of Directors of the Cooperative. Upon establishment of the fact that a director is holding office in violation of any of the foregoing provisions, the Board of Directors shall remove such director from office. Likewise, a candidate for election shall be denied certification for the office for which he or she is running upon establishment of the fact that the candidate is in violation of any of the foregoing provisions.
NAEC Board Policy 100
The Nominating Committee and/or any Petition placing a name for election to the Board through the petition process, should carefully consider the following legal requirements and personal qualifications before such a nomination is entered. That the person to be nominated:
- Must receive service from the cooperative at his/her residence, and be a member of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Inc. who resides in the county or district from which he/she is nominated for two years.
- Must be a citizen of the United States of America.
- Be a member of the cooperative in good standing. As used herein, the term “good standing” shall mean that a director shall have no more than three delinquent monthly service bills within the preceding twenty-four month period.
- Should be willing to promote and safeguard the interests of the Cooperative among the members and the general public.
- Will be required, and therefore able, to represent the membership on an impartial basis for the good of, and in the best interest of, the entire Cooperative.
- Must not in any way be employed by or financially interested in any enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative as provided by the Bylaws of the Cooperative.
- Not have a spouse employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy or supplies to the Cooperative.
- Not currently be employed or have been employed within the past three years, in any capacity with the Cooperative or any subsidiaries.
- Not have a spouse currently employed or have been employed with the past three years, in any capacity with the Cooperative or any subsidiaries.
- Not have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty within the ten prior years to the date of the election, unless the candidate has received a pardon for such conviction; not have been convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty, while serving as a director.
- Should be willing to attend regularly scheduled and special meetings of the Board of Directors and to further attend national, state, and local meetings of organizations with associated interests that further the Cooperative movement. They should also attend Director training institutes or seminars which will aid in keeping them well informed on matters affecting the Cooperative.
- Should be aware that members of the Board of Directors serve without salary and on a fee basis for time given to regularly scheduled and approved affairs of the Cooperative. In addition, they will be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses in connection with such scheduled activities.
- Should agree to serve their elected term, or until a successor has been appointed or elected.
- Shall not use, nor cause to be used, the position of Director to further any political ambition.
- Be in compliance with all other provisions of the bylaws and policies of the Cooperative and the Board of Directors of the Cooperative. Upon establishment of the fact that a director is holding office in violation of any of the foregoing provisions, the Board of Directors shall remove such director from office. Likewise, a candidate for election shall be denied certification for the office for which he or she is running upon establishment of the fact that the candidate is in violation of any of the foregoing provisions.