(April 2, 2015) Election season officially began in Ocean Pines last week, as the community’s search committee held the first open meeting to educate the public on the duties of elected officials, as well as attempting to recruit new candidates.
Chairman Martin Baer said several current board members, as well as the chairman of the election committee and the entire search committee, attended the meeting on March 25.
“A couple people showed up [as potential candidates] and they listened to the information that was presented,” Baer said. “Nobody submitted an application at the meeting, but there was interest.”
Treasurer Jack Collins was one of a handful of board members in attendance.
“I think there were a lot of very, very well-intended people who really want to make a difference and are looking to get folks in the community interested in serving on the board,” he said. “I think they’re going to be successful – I really do – and I think people should look at the possibility of doing that and take it seriously and consider it.
“We need people to be more involved in what’s going on at the board level,” Collins continued. “It’s early yet, so they’ve got a few steps that they have to go to. I think they’ll generate some interest.”
Board Vice President Marty Clarke and board member Sharyn O’Hare are both at the end of their respective terms this year. Both have suggested they will not run for reelection, although neither have made formal announcements as of yet.
“I don’t know if they’re going to run back or not,” Collins said. “You never know. I’d like to see some fresh faces on the board so that they can get an idea of how the association functions and operates, and how the governance works in Ocean Pines. I think it would be a good thing.”
Overall, Baer said the meeting went “extremely well.”
“A lot of good information was presented and we walked out of there knowing we should do it again towards the end of April,” he said. “We all felt very good about the meeting. I felt very good from the standpoint of the information, and the broad aspect of the information that we were able to convey. And we had plenty of questions from the folks that did attend.”
The deadline to submit an application for candidacy is May 10. For more information visit www.oceanpines.org.
Chairman Martin Baer said several current board members, as well as the chairman of the election committee and the entire search committee, attended the meeting on March 25.
“A couple people showed up [as potential candidates] and they listened to the information that was presented,” Baer said. “Nobody submitted an application at the meeting, but there was interest.”
Treasurer Jack Collins was one of a handful of board members in attendance.
“I think there were a lot of very, very well-intended people who really want to make a difference and are looking to get folks in the community interested in serving on the board,” he said. “I think they’re going to be successful – I really do – and I think people should look at the possibility of doing that and take it seriously and consider it.
“We need people to be more involved in what’s going on at the board level,” Collins continued. “It’s early yet, so they’ve got a few steps that they have to go to. I think they’ll generate some interest.”
Board Vice President Marty Clarke and board member Sharyn O’Hare are both at the end of their respective terms this year. Both have suggested they will not run for reelection, although neither have made formal announcements as of yet.
“I don’t know if they’re going to run back or not,” Collins said. “You never know. I’d like to see some fresh faces on the board so that they can get an idea of how the association functions and operates, and how the governance works in Ocean Pines. I think it would be a good thing.”
Overall, Baer said the meeting went “extremely well.”
“A lot of good information was presented and we walked out of there knowing we should do it again towards the end of April,” he said. “We all felt very good about the meeting. I felt very good from the standpoint of the information, and the broad aspect of the information that we were able to convey. And we had plenty of questions from the folks that did attend.”
The deadline to submit an application for candidacy is May 10. For more information visit www.oceanpines.org.