February 17, 2010

Three Incumbents Re-elected to FKEC Board

Incumbents David Ritz, George Hertel and Karl Wagner have been re-elected to serve three-year terms on the Florida Keys Cooperative Board of Directors.

The three candidates were unopposed and were elected in accordance with FKEC bylaws, which state, "in the event only one qualified member from a district is so nominated, that member shall be declared elected in which no election need be held for such office."

FKEC's Board of Directors has the authority to establish policies and review operational procedures to promote a progressive, financially-sound utility. The Board has nine seats, and each director must be a member in his or her voting district. Directors must be nominated and elected by their home district's members according to FKEC bylaws.

Board President David Ritz was originally appointed to FKEC's Board in 1999 to complete the remainder of an unexpired term for District 1, Key Largo. He was then elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2004 and 2007. Ritz was elected as President of the board in 2005 and has earned his certification as a Credentialed Cooperative Director with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Ritz moved to Key Largo in 1992 as Community Administrator/President of the Ocean Reef Community Association, a position he has held for the past 18 years. He has graduated from the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University and also serves on the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority Board. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Florida.

Ritz also serves our community as president of the Ocean Reef Volunteer Fire Department and the North Key Largo Utility Corporation. In addition, he serves as a board member for numerous political, business, and cultural organizations.

George Hertel was elected to the board in 2004 as a representative of District 3, Islamorada. He was re-elected in 2007 and earned his Credentialed Director certification with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in 2006.

Hertel began in business in the Keys in 1981, when he and his wife Dorothy purchased the Islamorada Fish Company. In 2003, Hertel sold his interest in the business. Before their move to the Keys, Hertel was a builder/developer in Broward.

Hertel is the 2009-2010 Upper Keys Rotary Club President, on the First State Bank Advisory Board, and a past board member of the board of the Islamorada Fishing Club.

Hertel lives in Islamorada with his wife and has four children.

Karl Wagner was also elected to the board in 2004 and again in 2007. He serves as representative for District 4, Marathon, is a Credentialed Cooperative Director, and is working toward earning his Board Leadership Certificate.

Wagner has lived in the Keys for over 40 years and has been a self-employed backcountry guide and owner of a commercial lobster fishing business since 1983. He also managed two family businesses and earned his Associate’s Degree in accounting from Florida Keys Community College.

A graduate of Florida State Fire College and a firefighter for over two decades, Wagner is currently employed by the City of Key West as a firefighter. Through his career, he has earned two Phoenix lifesaving awards. He is also past president of the Marathon Chapter of the Organized Fisherman of Florida; founding director of Monroe County Commercial Fisherman; and past council member/trustee of Community Church United Methodist in Marathon.

Wagner lives in Marathon with his wife Kristen and their two children.