2022 Director Election

455 Hawthorn Ln., Sullivan

Unopposed incumbent

Bink Blankenship was first elected in 2014 to fill a one-year term on the Crawford Electric board of directors. Members re-elected him the next year to his first three-year term. In his 10 years serving on the board, Blankenship has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

Pointing to his 30 years of being self-employed in the construction business, he said he is “good with communication.”

Blankenship said his interest in serving on the board is keeping rates low for the members. “Crawford Electric is the sixth lowest for electric rates in Missouri out of 40 co-ops,” he said. “If re-elected, I will continue to work with other directors and Crawford Electric staff to keep those rates low.”

Important issues facing the board, according to Blankenship, are “the rising cost of inflation on materials, keeping coal plants going for reliability and cost efficiency, and also keeping good jobs in the community.”

His message to the membership is, “The directors and staff strive for safety in the workplace, low rates for the members and timely restoration of power during storms. I’m conservative, dependable, and open-minded for the co-op. I’ll always make myself available to the members…just a phone call away.”

323 Hazel Crest Ln., Bourbon

Scott Morton has lived in Bourbon since he first joined Crawford Electric in 1988 as an apprentice lineman. He moved into the engineering department in 1995, where he designed electrical power lines as one of the co-op’s staking technicians until his retirement in September 2022. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University.

Morton said he’s interested in serving on the board of directors because he believes he has a unique insight into members’ concerns and expectations. “My job took me throughout Crawford Electric’s territory where I met face to face with members on a daily basis.”

He said he believes that there are many challenges facing Crawford Electric that will need to be addressed. “In these times of rapidly increasing costs, particular attention needs to be paid to all expenses,” Morton said.

Important issues facing the board, according to Morton, are director compensation, co-op vehicles and internal policies. He had this to say about those issues:

“(A.) The exorbitant costs of providing medical, dental, and vision insurance to board members and their families at no cost to the directors. (B.) The potential liability and cost from the personal use of cooperative vehicles. (C.) A serious review of internal policies and procedures with a view to make them more efficient and member friendly.”

Nonetheless, Morton said, “Crawford Electric provides a great service and value to its member-owners and with the support of the members, I hope to make it even better.”

3757 Highway J, Bourbon

Members first elected Murphy to the board’s District 2 position in 2003. He has 21 years of service as a Credentialed Cooperative Director, has served as chairperson of various committees of the board, and said he has gained working knowledge of various aspects of the co-op’s operations. “As an incumbent director, I am proud to have served the members with dedication and integrity,” he said. “With a legacy of line construction running in our family, I bring a deep understanding of the electric industry to the board table.”

After retiring from 42 years of service as postmaster in Sullivan, Cuba, Bourbon, Branson and Kimberling City, Murphy now farms full time on the family farm homestead, which was established in Crawford County in 1840. “Together with my wife, sons and daughters-in-law, we raise Angus cattle on this sixth-generation farm,” he said.

Pointing to his years with the U.S. Postal Service, Murphy said he has experience in human resources, finance, strategic budgeting, labor relations, safety and customer service.

The important issues facing the board, according to Murphy, are system reliability, affordability, technological expertise and member satisfaction.

“During my tenure, Crawford Electric continues to achieve an unparalleled system reliability rate of 99.99% and a top-10 lowest electric rate among the 40 electric cooperatives in the state,” he said. “Crawford is one of the most technologically advanced cooperatives and, according to a national member survey, ranks in the top 25% in the entire country in member satisfaction based on our own members’ responses and scores.”

Reflecting on why he wants to continue to serve on the board, Murphy said: “It has been a privilege to serve the members of Crawford Electric. The employees, management, and other directors have been incredible to work with. My goal is to continue to be instrumental in providing owner-members with safe, reliable and affordable electricity.”