By Greg Ellison

(April 7, 2022) In addition to testing new equipment and reviewing the ballot design, the Ocean Pines Election Committee last week produced candidate forum questions for this summer’s board of directors election.

Three seats are open this year. They are now held by Director Larry Perrone, who was elected to a first term in 2019, and by Amy Peck and Josette Wheatley, both of whom were appointed last October to fill board vacancies.

Committee Chair Carol Ludwig unveiled the proposed ballot design for the election, while also noting the arrival of new scanner equipment during the groups’ meeting last Friday.

Before testing the scanner equipment, Ludwig said the upgrade in the ballot-counting system would speed-up processing.

To further streamline procedures, association volunteers will assist with pre-scan sorting duties.

Photo by Greg Ellison
Ocean Pines Election Committee members tested a new scanner and reviewed ballot designs for the upcoming board contest during its meeting on Friday.

“We’ll ask them to put the envelopes in section order so we can go through quickly,” she said.

Ludwig said neighborhood sections are listed on the back of return envelopes, while also noting that duplicate ballots would be retained and remained sealed.

“It says duplicate on it,” she said. “When someone asks for an extra ballot, when it’s sent out, it gets marked duplicate.”

After ballots are scanned, which is scheduled for Aug. 11, all records will be retained for a minimum of one year.

The committee voted unanimously to approve the election ballot design as presented.

Committee members also considered a trio of candidate questions ahead of a pair of election forums slated for June 22 and June 25.

Ludwig said candidates would provide responses before the election forums take place.

“They submit answers to the Public Relations and Marketing Department,” she said. “Plus they get to make a 200-word statement of their own.”

Last year’s questions included naming two top priorities if seated, talents/skills candidates would provide and ideas for budget improvements.

While consensus existed for the first two inquiries, the third point’s value was questioned.

Committee member Joseph Peloso suggested the budget question related more to past than current dynamics.

“It’s now being better managed,” he said.

“From a financial standpoint, we’re in very good shape,” board liaison Larry Perrone added.

Committee member Mary Anne Whitcomb suggested having the question focus on top concerns residents expressed in the recent homeowners’ survey.

“There’s a lot of issues,” she said. “Transparency of the board was one of them.”

The committee agreed to omit the budget question and based on a suggestion from Marketing and Public Relations Director Josh Davis, opted to ask candidates what survey concerns stood out for them as priorities.

Ludwig noted the list of candidate questions was not exhaustive.

“We also have the forum to ask them questions,” she said.

The board election ballot submission deadline is Aug. 10 by 4 p.m.

Ballots will be counted and totals announced the following day, with the annual Homeowners’ Meeting set for Aug. 13.

The deadline for board candidate applications is May 10.

Applications can be obtained in person at the administration building or online by visiting

https://www.oceanpines.org/documents/10184/53744/OPA+Board+candidate+registration+form.pdf.