SECO Energy members residing in District 8 have elected Martin Proctor as their representative to serve on SECO Energy’s Board of Trustees.
The meeting and election were held within the district at First Baptist Church of Leesburg South Campus, located at 25900 U.S. Highway 27, on Feb. 13. The incumbent trustee, Bill James, decided to retire as the District 8 trustee after 14 years of board service.
SECO Energy is a not-for-profit electric cooperative, operated for and owned by its members. SECO’s service area is geographically divided into nine districts. One trustee is elected from each of the nine districts to represent their fellow members on SECO’s nine-member Board of Trustees. Collectively, the board represents the SECO membership, meeting monthly to monitor the financial status of the cooperative while providing fiduciary oversight and participating in policy decisions that serve the best interests of the membership at large.
Martin Proctor, who lives in Groveland, and Anthony Grove, who lives in Clermont, both submitted letters of intent to run as the District 8 candidate, and each met the trustee qualifications. As the newly elected trustee, Proctor will assume the seat held since 2010 by William James, who is retiring from the Board of Trustees. Proctor will hold the trustee position for a three-year term.
SECO’s bylaws require that the cooperative hold district meetings every three years at which time elections are held to determine representation for the district on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. Cooperatives that hold in-person district meetings must also hold an in-person election per Florida statute. A drive-thru voting option was available for members for added convenience and to encourage participation.
A SECO Energy Foundation Board vice president since 2023, Proctor is a District 1 board member of the Lake County Water Authority and is active with the Groveland Planning and Zoning. He is a graduate of Purdue University and holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering. He lives on Lake Emma, part of Palatlakaha Creek, with his wife Julie. Proctor has also been a member of SECO Energy for over 35 years.
After the meeting, Proctor was congratulated by Board Trustee and President Gerald Anderson and SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn. Proctor is grateful for the opportunity to serve his community in a new capacity, stating, “I want to thank my fellow District 8 friends and neighbors who attended the meeting and election. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the SECO Energy Board of Trustees and expect to learn as much about the cooperative and industry as possible. Mr. James has served this District well; he mentored me and nominated me to the SECO Energy Foundation Board. This new role will increase my knowledge of the energy industry and cooperative, not-for-profit business model. I am excited for the challenge and the ability to work with and build communication with my future board peers.”
Board Trustee Anderson added, “Congratulations, Mr. Proctor, on your election to the SECO Energy Board of Trustees. Our veteran trustees will work shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Proctor to advance his familiarity with SECO’s unique processes, objectives and challenges ahead.”
SECO Energy CEO Curtis Wynn also paid tribute to James and then welcomed Proctor, adding, “Mr. James has been a steadfast trustee who has been a valued contributor. His dedication to SECO is admirable and respected by us all. Mr. Proctor comes with an impressive history of community service, not the least of which was his appointment as a founding SECO Energy Foundation Board member. This experience will ease the transition into his new role as a trustee with SECO Energy. We look forward to his future contributions and dedication to support SECO Energy.”