Why I’m Running for the Kankakee Valley REMC Board

My name is Sharon Angelina, and I’m running for an At-Large seat on the Kankakee Valley REMC Board of Directors.

I believe everyday member-owners deserve to understand the decisions affecting their cooperative, their electric bills, and their communities. They deserve board members who are willing to listen, ask thoughtful questions, learn about a changing energy landscape, and keep the needs of local families in mind.

That is the kind of board member I hope to be.

Rooted in Northwest Indiana

I have spent most of my life in Northwest Indiana, raising my family and serving communities across the region.

My path to this campaign has not been a traditional one. I am an artist and musician, a mother, an educator, an administrator, a nonprofit board member, and a community volunteer. Through those different roles, I have learned how to listen to people, manage responsibilities, work collaboratively, and bring people together around a shared purpose.

I began teaching at the nonprofit Art Barn School of Art in 2014. I later joined its board and served as office manager and program director. I have also served on the board of Unity in the Dunes, co-founded and led a birth support group, and spent many years helping bring people together through community theater and music.

Each of these experiences has taught me something about leadership: good leaders don't need to have all the answers. They need to prepare, listen carefully, ask honest questions, and be willing to learn.

A Different Perspective on Energy

My interest in energy is also personal.

During the COVID years, my youngest daughter and I spent more than two years living off-grid in a tiny house we built together. That experience gave me a firsthand perspective on how we use energy, how much we depend on it, and the importance of making thoughtful decisions about the resources available to us.

Today, I continue exploring our relationship with the natural world through Prairie Flower Farm, which I established in 2024. The farm focuses on prairie restoration and offers opportunities for people to learn about the connections between land, community, and environmental stewardship.

These experiences haven't made me someone who claims to have every answer about our energy future. They have made me curious.

I believe curiosity is valuable in a boardroom.

Representing Everyday Members

Kankakee Valley REMC is a cooperative. The people receiving electricity from the co-op are not simply customers—they are member-owners.

That idea is at the heart of my campaign.

I want to represent the families, farmers, small businesses, retirees, and neighbors who depend on KV REMC every day. I want to hear what members are experiencing, understand their questions and concerns, and help make sure those perspectives are part of board discussions.

My campaign is focused on three priorities.

Local Families

Decisions made by our cooperative affect the everyday lives of the people it serves.

I believe board members should remain connected to those members. That means listening to people from across the KV REMC service territory and understanding how decisions affect different families and communities.

As an At-Large candidate, I want to represent members throughout the cooperative and remain accessible to the people I serve.

Affordable Energy

Energy costs matter to all of us.

When costs rise, member-owners deserve clear information about why they are rising and what options are being considered for the future.

I will approach questions about costs with curiosity, preparation, and a commitment to responsible decision-making. I want to understand the choices before the cooperative, ask thoughtful questions about their long-term impact, and keep affordability for member-owners at the center of the conversation.

Transparency

I believe knowledge helps us make better decisions.

The issues facing electric cooperatives can be complicated, but member-owners deserve clear and understandable information about the decisions affecting their cooperative.

Transparency also requires listening. Communication shouldn't only flow from the cooperative to its members. Board members should be willing to hear questions, concerns, experiences, and ideas from the people they represent.

I want to help strengthen that connection.

Leadership Begins With Listening

I am not running because I believe one person can walk into a boardroom and change everything overnight.

I am running because I believe representation matters.

I would bring decades of community involvement, nonprofit board experience, administrative and program leadership, curiosity, and a willingness to ask honest questions. Most importantly, I would bring a commitment to listening to the member-owners I hope to represent.

Our electric grid connects homes, farms, businesses, and communities across Northwest Indiana. But our cooperative connects something even more important: us.

I believe our cooperative is strongest when everyday members are informed, engaged, and heard.

I would be honored to earn your vote and represent you on the Kankakee Valley REMC Board of Directors.