By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

The Ocean Pines Association’s Board of Directors election approaches with four candidates officially registered to run for the governing group’s three open seats.

The community’s election committee conducted a drawing last week to determine ballot order and forum seating.

OPA’s Board of Directors is a seven-person team tasked with policy setting. Terms extend for three years before a member is up for reelection.

Each summer, members of trhe association vote to fill that year’s open seats.

This time, the four individuals campaigning for the homeowner association’s board of directors are incumbents Stuart Lakernick, the body’s current president, Monica Rakowski, the acting treasurer and director Steve Jacobs. Challenging for a seat is a Amy Peck.

Peck ran for the board last year but lost to incumbents Rick Farr and Jeff Heavner. The repeat challenger served on the governing group from October 2021 to August 2022 after being appointed to carry out the remainder of a former member’s term who had resigned.

The ballot order, chosen by a random drawing at the OPA Election Committee’s May 27 meeting, places Lakernick first, Rakowski second, Jacobs third, and Peck fourth. The deadline for candidates to submit applications was extended to June 20 to solicit additional entries, as the community’s governing documents prefer two more runners than available seats. As such, if anyone else throws their hat into the ring, they will be added to the ballot order, determined by their application submission date.

Steve Ransdell, election committee chair, said that the forum, where candidates will be asked questions to gauge their priorities and positions on specific issues, is tentatively scheduled for the evening of Friday, June 27. Voting is set to open Monday, July 7, and close Wednesday, August 6.

The ballot order also determines how the forum is conducted. Not only will the candidates be seated in order of ballot appearance, but questions will be asked in this configuration as well. For instance, the first campaigner on the voting card will be asked the initial inquiry.

In addition to an internet ballot-casting option, Ocean Pines residents can drop their votes into a box at the community’s administration building. Homeowners can slip their votes into this collection site until noon on August 6.

The annual membership meeting will be held on Saturday, August 9. The election results will be announced ahead of or at the scheduled gathering.

The election committee encourages residents to ensure their physical and email addresses are current to guarantee they can vote in this summer’s election. Ransdell asks that homeowners contact the administration office with any address updates or to rectify issues like CPI (Compliance, Permit, and Inspections) violations that could prevent ballot-casting qualification.

For questions about the election, residents can email elections@oceanpines.org.