Overview:
Delaware Electric Cooperative’s 2026 Annual Meeting took place on Tuesday, August 11 at Memorial Hall (formerly the Centre Ice Rink) at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. Members enjoyed ice cream and cookies and had a chance to learn about their Co-op through various displays. Members also heard an update from President and CEO Rob Book about the Co-op's response to numerous storms over the past year, work to keep rates affordable and DEC's efforts to minimizing the possible impacts of data centers on members.
Director Elections:
Our Cooperative’s strength is found in our business model, which provides for democratic control of DEC. Our board is elected by those we power, and each director is a Co-op member. Four (4) Directors who were running unopposed were re-elected via acclimation (voice vote) at the meeting.
DISTRICT 2 - Bruce Walton
Bruce Walton retired as a Brigadier General with the Delaware National Guard after 36 years of service. He is a past member of the Caesar Rodney School Board, was the Deputy Principal Assistant to the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture from 1998 to 2005 and has a broad background in agricultural and community service. Memberships include the Delaware and Kent County Farm Bureaus, Delaware Fruit Growers Association and Gideons International. Mr. Walton has completed the Credentialed Cooperative Director program and the Director Gold program.
DISTRICT 5 - Mark Abbott
During his time representing DEC members, Mark has worked hard to ensure DEC’s rates remain among the lowest in the state and advocated for investments that have led to record safety and reliability for DEC members. He has also voted to return millions of dollars to members in the form of billing credits. Mark has earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s Credential Cooperative Director Certificate and sits on the Safety and Audit committees. His goals are to encourage DEC’s leaders to invest in diverse and affordable power generation sources, maintain strong support of DEC’s Beat the Peak Program and continue his education in the rapidly changing utility industry. Mark is a retired 30-year public school teacher. He resides in Georgetown, where he graduated from Sussex Central and is an alumnus of both Messiah University and Delaware State University.
DISTRICT 8 - Bill Haughey
William Haughey, Jr. retired after 15 years as the Executive Director & Community Manager with Tunnell Companies, L.P. in Long Neck, DE. He previously had a 28-year banking career in the Kent and Sussex County areas. Mr. Haughey previously served on the Sussex County Advisory Board of WSFS Bank, as Vice President & Southern Regional Executive with the Bank of Delaware and PNC Bank and as a Vice President with Delaware Trust Company. He is a native Delawarean and graduate of Milford High School. Mr. Haughey has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Wilmington University. Mr. Haughey has attained the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification, the Board Leadership Certificate and three Director Gold Certificates. Most recently, he completed a course on artificial intelligence and electric cooperatives.
At-Large 2 - Jeff Chorman
Jeff Chorman is a native Delawarean, agricultural business owner and dedicated public servant with deep roots in Southern Delaware. As owner and operator of Chorman’s Aerial Spraying, he has spent decades supporting local farmers and understanding the challenges facing Delaware agriculture. A graduate of Cape Henlopen High School, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, combining his passion for aviation with agricultural service. He previously served six years on the Sussex County Board of Adjustment, including three years as chairman. Jeff has served on the Delaware Electric Cooperative Member Committee and the Delaware Electric Cooperative Board of Directors for the past two years. Jeff lives in Milford with his wife and two daughters.