Wayne Overton Resigns From OTEC Board of Directors
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, September 15th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
BAKER CITY – (Press release from OTEC) Wayne Overton has resigned from the Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC) Board of Directors. He had represented Baker County in Position 5 since 2015 and served as the board’s vice president in 2020. A general contractor and auctioneer, he has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Baker County youth programs and families.
In his September 8 resignation letter, Overton said he is stepping down to take on his family’s cattle ranch and help care for his father.
“The decision to resign did not come easy, however at this time I feel it’s in the best interest of OTEC and the members that I respect and represent,” Overton wrote. “I am genuinely grateful for the eleven and a half years I have been able to serve as director and look forward to what possibilities the future might hold.”
Under OTEC’s bylaws, the board has the duty to appoint a director to fill the remainder of the term for Position 5, which ends in 2027. Article III, Section 6 states: “Vacancies, other than those occurring as the result of expiration of term, in the Board shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining directors. The term of the member thus appointed to the Board shall be the unexpired portion of the term of the director he or she is appointed to fill. The member thus appointed as director to fill a vacancy must be qualified for election as a director from that district.”
The board will accept applications from Baker County member-owners beginning Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
An applicant must be an OTEC member. Spouses may hold a joint membership, and a membership can be converted to a joint membership on written request. Anyone unsure whether they are the member on their account should call OTEC at 541-523-3616 before applying.
