2026 Special Election - District Three
View our current board members, get an idea of their responsibilities and more!
District Three Vacancy Announced
Following the announcement of retirement from a dear friend and board member - Duane Henderson - the NWEC board of directors have declared the position of district three director as vacant and will host an election to fill the position for the remainder of the three-year term.
Members in district three have been notified of the vacancy and are encouraged to complete a board nomination and candidate introductory form during the filing period, March 2 - April 2, 2026.
Contact Robyn Medina at 580-256-7425 for an official nomination and introductory form, or come to our Woodward office. Materials must be submitted in person by April 2.
**Trustee Candidates are encouraged to review the following Articles and Sections: Article III Meeting of Members Section 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5. Article IV Trustees Section 2, 2.1, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 along with Sections 4 and 4.2.
District Three Special Meeting of the Members - May 19, 2026
Woodward County Event Center and Fairgrounds
Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.
Voting starts at 6 p.m.
Remember - it is one member ONE vote. Regardless of the amount of electric accounts, each member ONLY RECEIVES ONE VOTE.
If you have a business, organization, trust, or estate and a home account, you MUST have another representative (such as a spouse or business partner) who will vote on behalf of the additional account. If you are voting on behalf of one of the entities mentioned above PLEASE REVIEW AND BRING A CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY. You MUST have a certificate of eligibility to vote on behalf of a business. You will receive a certificate of eligibility when you receive your official notice of the meeting, or you can print and bring one by visiting the resources section at the bottom of this page.
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Why has this meeting been called?
Past district three director, Duane Henderson, announced his retirement from the board effective February 1, 2026. Following that announcement, the NWEC board of directors have declared the position of district three director vacant and will now host a special election to fill the position for the remainder of the term which ends in 2027.
After the vacancy was announced, members who reside in district three were given the chance to apply for the position. The members who meet all qualifications and confirm their intent will be announced as official candidates in mid-April.
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Who attends?
In short, only the members of Northwestern Electric who hold an account in district three. This election is to decide who will represent all those living in district three, so this matter concerns these members specifically.
If you are unsure of which district you live in, you can check your billing statement, or give us a call! When checking your bill, your voting district is listed in the middle of the document.
If you are unsure if you are considered a voting member, check out our guidelines below.
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Why attend?
Having a voice in who makes the major decisions that directly affect your life and your family is a right we all share. Less common, is the right to vote for those who will represent your community’s interests within your local electric utility. As a member of Northwestern Electric Cooperative, you have that right, so why not exercise it?
NWEC is not owned by far away investors, and it is not run by an appointed board of directors. We are run by a democratically elected board of directors - a board who is given the privilege to serve because of your vote. Our directors are members of your community. They are concerned with the issues you face every day because they face them as well.
Meeting Resources
Map of Board Districts.
2026 Special Election:
District Three
Meet Your Candidates
Darren Hughes
Darren and his wife Rachel call the area north of Mooreland home, and have three adult children. Darren said he would take pride in serving members and our community while working to continue bringing reliable power to Northwest Oklahoma. He is a fourth-generation farmer and rancher who said he is ready to put his experience and dedication to his community to work for the co-op.
Darren graduated from Freedom high school and later attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He graduated in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on banking and finance, and a minor in economics.
After graduating from college the desire to carry the tradition and help is dad and grandad on the farm brought him back to the Mooreland area. Darren has now taken over his grandad’s part of the partnership and has lived near Alabaster Caverns State Park for the past 37 years. He and his dad are the proud owners of a centennial farm.
He currently serves as chairman of his local rural water district - Woodward County Rural Water District #1.
What is your main reason for running? Why would you like to serve on the NWEC Board of Trustees for the next three years and potentially many more to come?
Knowing the importance of electricity in rural Oklahoma, I would take pride in serving on the board of NWEC to continue bringing reliable service to Northwest Oklahoma.
What would you enjoy most about serving on the NWEC Board of Trustees?
I would enjoy meeting and working with other members who share the same values and take pride in being involved in decisions that make a difference in our community.
Is there anything else you would like the members, whether they be voting or not, to know?
I have been a professional photographer for over 25 years, I enjoy NASCAR racing, collector cars, motorcycles, and playing cornhole with friends and family.
Mike Medill
Mike and his wife Donna have been married for 45 years, and have called Woodward home for the past 40. They have two children and four grandsons to keep them on their toes. Mike said he feels this is the perfect time for him to devote his skills to serve our community. He said he will encourage members not to hold back in coming to him for any needs, and that he feels confident he would enjoy working with our current board and CEO.
Mike grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas, before attending Washburn University in Topeka on a football scholarship where he received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and then pursued a master’s degree in physical education at the University of Nebraska (MPE). He worked as a graduate assistant and coach for the basketball teams there, and after the completion of his degree accepted a position at LSUA.
Mike spent five years in Louisiana at LSUA (Louisiana State University of Alexandria), which is a university in the LSU system. While there, he was the Athletic Director and acted as head coach of the men’s and women’s basketball teams and the baseball team. After that he spent the next 27 years as the Director of Kids Inc. His most recent position was as an employee of the Lighthouse here in Woodward, where I spent six years before officially retiring.
What is your main reason for running? Why would you like to serve on the NWEC Board of Trustees for the next three years and potentially many more to come?
I feel I have the time to devote to this position and the desire to help my community. I will do what is needed to best represent the members of my district.
What would you enjoy most about serving on the NWEC Board of Trustees?
I feel that I would thoroughly enjoy working with my fellow directors to best serve our members. I am familiar with the current board and feel that I would work well among them.
Is there anything else you would like the members, whether they be voting or not, to know?
One thing I would really like the members to know, is that they shouldn’t hold back on me. I need them to come to me with advice, issues and everything in between. I feel confident in taking your feedback to our board and CEO, and am ready to take in their guidance and expertise as I work to serve you.
Cale Steadman
Cale and his wife Alyssa call Woodward home, and have two young children who certainly keep their home entertaining. If given the opportunity, Cale said he will serve members with integrity and prioritize being accessible to members and contributing where it matters. He said other skills that he will use to serve members are his education, work experience and personal history with the co-op.
Cale has been around Woodward his whole life, growing up on a family farm southeast of Woodward where his family settled in the land run. After graduating from Sharon-Mutual high school, he attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness with minors in finance and real estate appraisal.
He recently accepted a position with Edward Jones as a financial advisor in Woodward. Prior to that, he worked at Bank 7 for five years as the Vice President of Ag/Commercial Lending. He also runs a stocker cattle operation and helps on the family farm when he can.
Cale has served his community by acting as a board member for the Woodward Chamber of Commerce and as treasurer of the Woodward Rotary Club. He also makes it a priority to support local fundraisers and community events whenever possible.
This area is very important to Cale and his wife, and they value the opportunity to build their lives and raise their children in the same area that has meant so much to their family.
What is your main reason for running? Why would you like to serve on the NWEC Board of Trustees for the next three years and potentially many more to come?
I want to serve on the NWEC board because I care about the future of our community and the role the cooperative plays in it. My grandpa was an employee of NWEC for 29 years, giving me an appreciation for what NWEC provides to families, farms, and businesses in our area. With my agricultural background, I understand how important reliable and affordable electricity is to rural operations. At the same time, my work in finance has given me a strong understanding of budgeting, long-term planning, and decision-making. I would like to use both perspectives to help NWEC continue to serve its members well and stay strong for future generations. I also look forward to working with the other cooperative members to ensure the successful operations of the cooperative.
What would you enjoy most about serving on the NWEC Board of Trustees?
I look forward to being part of the decisions that impact NWEC and its members. I also enjoy the opportunity to attend monthly meetings and continue learning through board service so I can contribute where it matters. My family and I plan to stay in the Woodward area long-term, so it’s important to me to invest in a community and cooperative that we’ll be part of for many years.
Is there anything else you would like the members, whether they be voting or not, to know?
I am committed to serving with integrity, accountability, and a strong work ethic. I believe in being accessible and listening to the concerns and priorities of the membership. As someone who plans to live, work, and raise my family in this area long-term, I have a vested interest in the continued success and reliability of NWEC. If given the opportunity, I will work diligently to represent the membership and help ensure the cooperative remains a strong and dependable resource for future generations.