At least six candidates will compete for four open seats on the Seven Lakes Landowners Association [SLLA] Board of Directors, and Seven Lakes West Landowners Association [SLWLA] Directors approved on Tuesday a slate of four candidates for three open seats candidates on the Westside Board.
The opportunity remains on both sides of town for additional candidates to enter the race by submitting petitions representing a sufficient number of lots — approximately 50 petitions for either Association.
Both Associations hold their Annual Meetings and elect new Directors in March. The Times will profile and interview the candidates on both sides of town in upcoming editions.
Both challengers & incumbents on SLLA Ballot
Northsiders Bob Darr, Bob Racine, Conrad Meyer, and Don Fentzlaff will join incumbent directors Randy Zielsdorf and Bruce Keyser, Jr. on the SLLA ballot. Nominating Committee Chair Melinda Scott presented the candidates during the SLLA’s December 15 Open Meeting.
Vice President Kent Droppers will not stand for re-election to the Board.
With Treasurer Denny Galford concluding his term of office, Security Director Chuck Mims could be the only Southside resident remaining at the boardroom table next year.
Zielsdorf mentioned during the Open Meeting that there were rumors of a petition candidate who could swell the number of names on the ballot to seven. Any resident interested in running still has time, as long as they present a petition signed by fifty members in good standing at the January Open Meeting.
Four stand for three seats in Seven Lakes West
Nominees approved by the Westside Board in a Special meeting on Tuesday, December 21 include Patti Cleary, James Ferguson, James McCarthy, and Jack Stevens.
Stevens is a retired nurse anesthetist, an accomplished pilot, an avid gardener and officer in the Lake Auman Sports Club. He moved to Seven Lakes West in 2006
McCarthy, a three-year resident, is a retired New York City police detective, and also served as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in High Point.
Ferguson retired to Seven Lakes West in September 2009 after spending more than 23 years with the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Cleary, the wife of former SLWLA Secretary Ed Tuton, has owned property on the West Side since 1997 and lived in the community since 2002. After retiring from a 35-year career in banking, she has been an Area Representative and an active SLWLA volunteer.
The terms of three Westside Directors — Milligan, Silberhorn, and President Ron Shepard — expire in March; none of the three has indicated an interest in running for another term.
Board delayed approval, picked up candidate
The Nominating Committee presented three of those candidates to the Board for approval during its Tuesday, December 14 Work Session.
However, the Board withheld approval of the proposed slate until a more thorough interview process could be conducted.
“We passed a list of criteria which requires an interview,” said Legal Director Ed Silberhorn. “Since that has not occurred, I am uncomfortable not knowing more about these candidates.”
The criteria in question are a set of guidelines for approving candidates that the Board imposed on itself, at Milligan’s request, in October.
Director John Goodman also weighed in, taking issue with one candidate’s statements that he “would not be a servant to any special interest group,” and that he did not have any hidden agendas.
“I am concerned about not having an open question period with candidates,” Goodman said. “I’m not even sure where some of these candidates stand on issues. We can’t have a situation where all we get is a one-page piece of paper and now we vote [approve at Board level].” He recommended that there be an opportunity to question the candidates both before Board approval and before the election.
Director Jane Sessler agreed, noting that, when she was interviewed by the Nominating Committee, an important question was in what capacity or role on the board would she would feel comfortable serving.
“That information is not presented here, nor have any of these candidates served on any committees,” said Sessler.
After further discussion, Milligan agreed to conduct a personal interview with each candidate — and then re-present the candidates for Board consideration at a Special Meeting called for Tuesday, December 21.
The results of those interviews — along with a fourth candidate — were shared with the Board in Executive Session.
The Board the returned to open session and unanimously approved the four nominees.
