Powering future leaders
Co-ops Vote drives rural participation ahead of primary
AHEAD OF THE MAY 12 primary election in Kentucky, Secretary of State Michael Adams is again partnering with Kentucky Electric Cooperatives on Co-ops Vote. Launched in 2016, the nonpartisan initiative aims to boost voter registration and turnout in areas served by cooperatives.
Though co-ops serve more than 70% of Kentucky’s landmass, voter participation in rural areas has historically not kept up with other parts of the commonwealth.
“Co-ops Vote works,” Adams says. “We’ve seen an increase in rural turnout since you all started this program. And that makes a huge difference. Historically in Kentucky, urban turnout was high and rural turnout was low. And urban turnout has remained high, but we’ve seen a big pop in rural turnout, I think, largely because of the success of this program.”
In March, Adams addressed nearly 90 student delegates representing their local co-ops on the Frankfort Youth Tour, a leadership program that brings high school juniors to the state’s capital for a day of learning about government, meeting elected leaders and exploring issues that shape their communities and the electric coops that serve them.
In 2025, 13 students who also participated in the weeklong Washington Youth Tour were inspired to host voter registration drives in their hometowns, resulting in hundreds of newly eligible Kentucky voters becoming registered.
“Co-ops Vote helps students understand that civic engagement starts now, not someday,” Adams says. “By encouraging young Kentuckians to register, speak up and get involved, we’re empowering them to shape their communities and the future of our commonwealth.”
Honored for leadership
At its annual meeting in March, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association presented Tony Campbell, the outgoing president and CEO of East Kentucky Power Cooperative, with the President’s Award for his outstanding leadership contributions to rural electrification and to the nation, his state and his community.
Among Campbell’s most high-profile accomplishments was an invitation to speak about energy policy at the White House in April 2025.
“Tony’s recent appearance at the White House was not a celebration of politics—it was a validation of persistence,” writes Alan Ahrman, EKPC’s board chairman, in recommending Campbell for the award. “For years, he raised concerns about the consequences of energy policies that ignored baseload realities. He didn’t seek the spotlight, but he refused to stay silent while the needs of rural Kentuckians were being overlooked.”
“Tony has been a strong champion of electric reliability, sounding the alarm about threats to the electric grid and stressing the importance of always-available generation resources that are critical to keeping the lights on,” says NRECA President Mike Partin.
Campbell, who will retire from the co-op in June, is currently serving as an adviser to new EKPC President and CEO Don Mosier.
“I would like to accept this award for the many electric cooperative leaders across this nation who have joined me in this vital fight to protect reliability and affordability for millions of Americans,” Campell says.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson, right, presents Tony Campbell, outgoing president and CEO of East Kentucky Power Cooperative, with the President’s Award. Photo: Denny Gainer/ NRECA
New CEO at Gibson Cooperatives After nearly 30 years at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation, Charles Phillips is the new president and CEO of both the co-op and its wholly owned, not-for-profit broadband subsidiary, Gibson Connect.
“I am grateful for the confidence and trust the board has placed in me,” Phillips says. “I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve in this leadership role and will strive to continue Gibson Electric’s and Gibson Connect’s important work in supporting and providing excellent service to our members, subscribers and communities.”
Phillips succeeds Dan Rodamaker, who retired on May 1 after 23 years of service.
A registered professional engineer, Phillips has held dual roles as vice president of technical services for Gibson Electric and vice president of operations for Gibson Connect since September 2017.
“He brings a unique combination of proven leadership, deep technical expertise, and a clear vision for the future of the cooperatives,” says Wray Pulliam, the co-op’s board chairman. “Charles understands both where Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect have been and where we need to go; and he has earned the respect of board members, employees and partners alike.” Gibson Electric serves about 3,500 consumer-members in Kentucky and more than 36,000 in Tennessee.
