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General Knowledge
Election season is upon us, and if enthusiasm for candidate speeches does not come naturally, then I have a recommendation for your Friday night viewing pleasure: “Game On,” episode 6 of the 4th season of The West Wing, and “The Debate,” episode 7 of the 7th season. Both are masterpieces, with the latter having been performed live, a true TV rarity in the modern era.
I love the energy and enthusiasm that comes with people discussing a vision of what can be accomplished when we all work together. This year there are seven candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring to assume the mantle of leadership for our little piece of America. No matter who you support, I think we can all agree that anyone who puts themselves out there to be judged in such a public way is brave, and we owe them all our appreciation for their willingness to step up and serve.
As Americans, self-determination is our birthright, and the opportunity to vote for leaders is all but sacred. Now, serving on the HROA board of directors doesn’t come with nuclear codes or the authority to appoint Supreme Court justices, but the board sets the priorities for the community and makes critical decisions that affect us all. It is a very important and serious role in the governance of our community.
Given those high stakes, you might be asking how you can learn more about the candidates to ensure you are making an informed decision. After all, there are no big media buys when it comes to running for the HROA board. There are no hit pieces or clever TV ads. You won’t be bombarded by glossy mailers or text messages telling you that we are on the brink of collapse unless you make a donation to one candidate over another. But you are in luck, because tomorrow at 9:00 am at the Rec. Barn or on YouTube, members will have a chance to hear from all of the candidates. This is not a no-holds-barred debate between political advisories. This is a genuine, old-school opportunity for the candidates to tell you why they are running and answer a few questions pertinent to serving on the board. It is frankly far more civilized than the national political landscape.
We solicited questions from members and have provided those to our moderator, Brian Brintle, the GM from Oak Shores. We will kick things off at 9:00 am sharp, so try to be there by 8:50 am to get your seats. Each candidate will have an opportunity to give a 2-minute opening statement, and then Brian will ask a combination of the member questions we received and some he has prepared. If there is time, we will take written questions from the audience, and they will be asked at the moderator’s discretion. Each candidate will have 1 minute to answer every question on a rotating basis so that everyone gets to answer first and last. Around 10:45 am, Brian will give the candidates an opportunity to provide a 90-second closing. Following the forum, you can ponder your choices, debate with your partner, and then vote electronically before hitting the lake. Only 11% of members have cast their ballots so far, and we need to get to 25% to have a valid election, but I am sure many folks have been waiting until after the forum, which had to wait until after the Fair.
I have received a few questions about ballots, and if you have not received yours, please let us know. We are working to move to get as many people as possible voting electronically, because it is far cheaper due to the lack of printing and mailing. It is also more convenient for members. If we have an email address for you and you did not opt out of e-voting, then you should have received an email with your e-ballot information from HROA@tieivote.com. If you did not and still haven’t received a paper ballot, please let us know, and we will chase it down for you, or you can contact info@tieivote.com. The default every year is that members will be signed up for e-voting unless you opt out to receive a paper ballot.
I hope to see you tomorrow morning at the candidate forum or around the ranch this weekend!
Jim
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