Tideland Electric Member Cooperative supplies the electricity to Ocracoke. Each month, members receive its magazine “Carolina Country,” which also includes “Tideland Topics,” a magazine specific to this area. The May print issue contains information about two men running for a District 2 seat on the board of directors and a paper ballot. Those two are incumbent Mark Carawan of Scranton and challenger Jeff Credle of Sladesville, both of Hyde County. The paper ballots are specific to each magazine/member so that they can be registered for a chance to win a $500 electric bill credit, said Heidi Jernigan Smith, Tideland communications director. The ballots must be received in the mail by May 12.
The May Tideland Topics online his here, but the ballots are only in the print magazine.
The letter below is from islander Vince O’Neal, who serves on the Tideland board.
It is with great pleasure and my absolute and wholehearted endorsement to announce that Mr. Mark Carawan is running again for the position of Director District 2 on the Tideland Electric Member Cooperative.
Mr. Carawan has been a loyal and dedicated board member for TEMC members for many years. and listed below is testament to his professional knowledge he provides.
A sampling of his professional knowledge and unwavering dedication to TEMC and more specifically to Ocracoke members include:
Instrumental in having the large generators that provided the island with power when the cable was cut on the Oregon Inlet bridge project a few years ago.
In April 2020 helped oversee the installation of the energized armor submarine cable that replaced the overhead conductors on pole road, a $4.5 million project.
In September 2024 helped to steer the relocation of 17 poles on Highway 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island. He will be supporting the effort to move 25 more poles towards the sound side of Highway 12 here in the near future to help ensure Ocracoke Island’s power is maintained.
Another project that he will be instrumental in will be the replacement of 2000’ of cable and splice cabinet on NPS Prong Road, a $2.6 million undertaking to help secure power for the Island.
We are living in very fragile and delicate times here on the island as indicated with all the pending TEMC projects listed above and it is critical to have someone of Mr. Carawan’s knowledge and expertise in these perilous times. Below is his bio so please take time to read and vote for our future.
Mr. Mark Carawan is a lifelong resident on a family farm in Scranton community of Hyde County, except for four (4) years at UNC-Charlotte. Mr. Carawan retired, 2019, as Faculty Lead Instructor, Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology Program, Beaufort County Community College, with 33 years continuous service. He established “HYCO Engineering Services” as an owner-operator specializing in electrical engineering solutions in manufacturing processes. Mr. Carawan holds an Unlimited Electrical Contractor’s License, NC, and was awarded certification in Electronics Engineering Technology-CET by NICET. He continues to teach as an adjunct instructor at BCCC. Mr. Carawan and his spouse, Pam are active members of Mt. Olive Church of Christ.
- Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering, UNC-Charlotte.
- First elected as Tideland EMC, Board Officer, May, 2020 from among the Board with almost six years of consecutive service as Board Secretary.
- President, Tideland Electric Care Trust, since inception, that provides energy assistance and local scholarships.
- Fire Chief, Scranton VFD, 1999-2025, Assistant Fire Chief, 2025-Present.
- “Beaufort County Community College Instructor of the Year,” 1997.
–Vince O’Neal
