TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—Two people, one a former board member the other a former employee, are seeking to gain sufficient member signatures to challenge for board seats at Alabama One Credit Union.
The two members, Jerry Logan and Lori Baird, say the current board lacks transparency, and are seeking 600 signatures each in order to qualify to get their names on the board ballots, according to TuscaloosaNews.com. The two were quoted by the publication as critical of several decisions made by the current board, including adjourning the 2014 annual meeting before members were permitted to ask questions of Alabama One officials.
The $602-million Alabama One has 60,000 members, most of whom live in Tuscaloosa County, where the credit union has nine of its 11 offices.
If successful, the two challengers would face three current board members who were nominated for the board and are running unopposed. TuscaloosaNews.com reported that if there are no challengers, unopposed candidates are elected via voice vote at the annual meeting. In a contested election, mail ballots are used.
TuscaloosaNews.com reported that Logan is a longtime member of the credit union and served as a director when the credit union operated as the BFGoodrich Employees Credit Union, and has also previously served on the credit union’s supervisory committee. He unsuccessfully ran for the board by petition in 2004 and attempted to run in 2006, but his petition was turned down for insufficient signatures, the website reported.
TuscaloosaNews.com said Baird is the CU’s former compliance officer and has been involved in a civil suit in which Alabama One alleges she violated a confidentiality agreement she signed. Baird said she provided information to a police investigation and has filed a counter claim.
The two challengers also told the publication they want more information about Alabama One’s relationship with former Tuscaloosa County businessman Danny Ray Butler, who was sent to federal prison last year after pleading guilty to three counts of bank fraud and three counts of wire fraud. That includes defrauding Alabama One of $1.275 million.
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