Top vote-getters Stuart Lakernick, Monica Rakowski and Steve Jacobs are pictured following this month’s election. (Submitted Photo)

By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(Aug. 14, 2025) For the Ocean Pines Association, the board of directors will remain as is, as incumbents Monica Rakowski, Steve Jacobs, and Stuart Lakernick secured the most votes in this year’s election.

In OPA’s 2025 Board of Directors election, four residents campaigned for the governing body’s three open seats. Incumbents Rakowski, Jacobs, and Lakernick will continue their tenure with the group, each serving three-year terms. Sole challenger Amy Peck fell short of breaking into the leadership team.

Of the 8,500 Ocean Pines lot owners, 2,824 voted in this summer’s board election for a 33% turnout. To secure their positions, Rakowski obtained 2,085 votes, Jacobs received 1,935, and Lakernick, who had served as the body’s president the previous year, gathered 1,730. Peck, unsuccessful in her run for OPA office, garnered the lowest number of ballots with 1,464.

Furthermore, a referendum asking Ocean Pines citizens to support the community’s contribution of up to $3.4 million toward a brand new South Station for the Ocean Pines Volunteer Fire Department passed. For this, 2,145 ‘yes’ votes were cast (80%), overriding the 537 ‘no’ ballots.

The effort to build a new firehouse on the neighborhood’s south side has been ongoing, as the current structure, constructed in the 1980s, has undergone only minor improvements since then. The station is not of adequate size or proper layout to host both volunteer and career staff, and has drainage issues, mold concerns, and leaks.

OPA and the fire company will fund the new building. At a public hearing in June, OPVFD President Joe Enste stated that the department has $1.7 million in grants and bonds, as well as $750,000 from fundraising and savings, which have been allocated for the project. That leaves $3.4 million to be financed by the homeowners association.

At the public hearing earlier this summer, OPA General Manager John Viola noted that the millions of dollars the community will contribute to the station, now a promise via the successful referendum vote, could incur an additional cost of up to $50 on OPA’s annual assessment fees. This figure is not concrete.

Despite the potential cost to residents, voters overwhelmingly supported Ocean Pines’ financial assistance to the new South Station. Work on the firehouse is expected to begin in October. Construction will take approximately 65 weeks to complete.

The results of OPA’s 2025 Board of Directors election were announced at the community’s annual meeting on Saturday, Aug. 9. The reelected officials maintain that they are excited for their upcoming terms.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has put their support behind me, allowing me to serve you,” Rakowski said. “It’s been an honor, and I look forward to continuing that dedication to you. Please, anytime you see me, if you have a question, would like to ask me something, or would like to share something, approach me. I look forward to seeing everyone around.”

“Thank you for all your support and engagement,” Lakernick echoed.

Upon the election results, Lakernick, in a letter, encouraged OPA residents to engage in respectful discourse, calling out online division among community members.

Lakernick wrote, “Here’s my call to action: If you care about your community, support those who lead, even if you don’t always agree; if you see online abuse or toxic behavior, speak up against it; and if you’re considering stepping forward to lead, know this: You are not alone. You’ll find allies who will have your back.”

Current board members also expressed their satisfaction that the governing group will remain intact for the upcoming year.

“This board…gets it done. This is why the incumbents were reelected,” said a Facebook post from Rick Farr, board vice president. “You have seven hard chargers on this board with executive-level experience that they bring to the board and the membership; and continue to have an outstanding relationship with the general manager with the same vision to continue to enhance Ocean Pines in every way, from the food and beverage, golf, aquatics, racquet sports, etc.”

The election outcomes were certified at a special board meeting Tuesday.