September 8, 2025
Write‑In Campaign for Top Spot Throws IES Election off Script
Ira Rothman’s challenge gives members a new choice in a typically controlled process
When the Illuminating Engineering Society released its annual ballot last week, it looked like every other year in recent memory. Six names, one per seat, and the clear expectation that Scotty Hutto of SESCO Lighting would ascend to Vice President in 2026 and, by tradition, the presidency in 2027. For decades, this has been how succession worked — ballots serving less as elections than as formal announcements of the next president.
But this year, that rhythm has been interrupted. Ira Rothman, a 38-year IES veteran with service at nearly every level of the Society, is mounting a write-in campaign to challenge the nominating committee’s choice. In a PDF letter now making its way into inboxes across the industry, Rothman questions the nominee’s readiness and urges members to “write me in as your selection/preference for the IES Vice-President/President Elect for 2026/2027.”
When reached for comment on the unexpected challenge, Hutto told Inside Lighting, "I respect anyone willing to step forward and serve, and a write-in campaign is an alternate path to serve set forth in the IES Bylaws. I’m honored to have been put forth as the nominee for Vice President by the nominating committee and my focus remains on using my talents and skills to help the IES grow and improve."
Inside Lighting spoke with Rothman for more than 45 minutes on Friday. While many IES members have criticized the nominating process itself — a process that typically results in just one candidate per seat each year — Rothman was clear: he isn’t calling for that process to change. He emphasized that the committee structure has produced strong At-Large and Regional Director candidates. His objection is specific to this year, this seat. He believes the VP/President Elect nominee lacks the breadth of experience needed to lead the Society, and he is throwing his hat in the ring as an alternative.
While some members voted before learning of his campaign, Rothman believes momentum and engagement will build over the next five weeks before voting closes October 15th.
The Hurdle of Low Turnout
The first obstacle isn’t Hutto, it’s apathy. Rothman points out that only about 12% of members typically vote in IES elections. Executive Director Colleen Harper confirmed his figure is accurate, saying last year’s rate was slightly improved with just over 14% turnout. With such a small fraction of members participating, every ballot matters, but it also means every barrier to voting looms larger.
And this year, casting a vote for Rothman means going beyond the printed name. Hutto’s photo & name is right there next to a checkbox on the ballot, while Rothman’s must be typed in. There’s no separate field for first and last names, just one blank line. That’s no small hurdle.
The write-in campaign also raises practical questions: what if members misspell Rothman’s name? Harper told Inside Lighting that the Society will accept any clear attempt. “We are able to see all of the write-in responses so we will accept anything that is clearly meant to be Ira’s name, even if it is misspelled,” she said. She also clarified the confidentiality of the process: “We can see how many people have voted and the aggregate data…but we cannot see how individual members voted.”
The clarification recalls past high-stakes write-in campaigns outside the lighting world. In 2010, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski mounted a successful write-in bid despite fears that voters would stumble over her last name. Ballots marked “Murkowsky” and some other mispellings were honored, while those with phonetically close but incorrect spellings like “Markowski” were tossed. The IES seems to be taking a less stringent approach, signaling that intent — not perfect spelling — will determine whether Rothman’s name is counted.
Rothman’s Case
Rothman’s letter to members of the Society pulls no punches. Without citing Hutto by name he argues that the “official nominee”:
- Has very little IES experience
- Has never held officer positions at the Section level
- Has no District or Regional management experience
- Has concentrated professional work within just one sector of the industry
- Did not attend the IES Annual Conference in Anaheim this year, even after being nominated
He warns that this combination of gaps leaves the Society vulnerable at a time when it faces challenges in membership growth, international expansion, standards development, and fundraising. “I am certain that the VP/President Elect candidate named on the Ballot this year will be like these later two examples [of weaker leaders], but together, we can change that,” Rothman wrote.
The pitch leans on his own record: At-Large Director, Treasurer, Northeast Regional Director, District Chair, Boston Section President, and a four-decade professional résumé spanning design, engineering, manufacturing, representation, and consulting. The message is unmistakable — Rothman sees himself as the candidate with the depth and breadth to lead.
Above: Header from Ira Rothman's write-in campaign email
Scotty Hutto’s Perspective
Hutto’s message is different in tone. In his candidate statement, he highlights more than 20 years of IES involvement, particularly with the Street and Area Lighting Committee (SALC), where he has served as both Chair and At-Large Director. “I am eager to continue contributing to the IES, and I believe that continued service as Vice President – President Elect is a fitting and meaningful way to do so,” he wrote.
He frames his qualifications around both Society and business leadership. “My professional background includes launching multiple businesses and successfully leading the turnaround of a failing enterprise—experiences that have equipped me with practical skills in leadership, strategic planning, and organizational management,” Hutto explained. He also noted his founding of three nonprofit organizations, saying those roles gave him “valuable insights into nonprofit finance and governance.”
“If elected, my primary objective will be to represent the interests of all members of the Society while drawing on my business acumen and deep knowledge of the outdoor lighting community to support the Society’s work,” Hutto stated, adding that his current employer has committed to financially support his continued Board service.
Campaign Styles Collide
Even the mechanics of campaigning highlight the differences. Both candidates were offered identical discounted banner ad opportunities on Inside Lighting. Rothman accepted and will run a political-style advertisement to build awareness of his write-in candidacy. Hutto politely declined. One is pressing for visibility wherever possible; the other is leaning on the traditional process.
And while we briefly considered hosting an IES presidential debate — an idea quickly shelved as a step too far — the fact that the notion even surfaced highlights how unusual this moment is. In conversations with longtime members, no one can recall a contested seat in the modern era of the Society.
An Election That Actually Feels Like One
For years, critics have argued that IES elections were too orderly, too predetermined, too much about a nominating committee’s deliberations behind closed doors. Rothman’s campaign has already changed that. With low turnout, a blank ballot field, and two sharply different candidates, this contest is now in the hands of members.
Whether Rothman’s insurgent push overcomes the ballot’s structural obstacles or Hutto continues the Society’s traditional succession, the result is the same: for the first time in memory, IES members are experiencing what feels like a real election.
