By Greg Ellison

(Oct. 22, 2021) Resolution of the disputed 2021 Ocean Pines Board election came into sharper focus after the Elections Committee counted ballots on Wednesday and announced Rick Farr finished first with incumbent Frank Daly placing second.

Farr, who garnered 1,629 votes, lead four-candidates vying for two openings and was followed by Daly with 1,571, Stuart Lakernick with 1,511 and David Hardy with 941.

The board election is currently being litigated in Worcester Circuit Court after Farr brought suit against the association due to his candidacy being disqualified in late July after initially being deemed eligible in May.

Recently resigned Director Camilla Rogers, who was serving as secretary, concluded Farr was not an eligible candidate after an anonymous phone call questioned his property ownership status through a family trust.

The just completed ballot count was conducted after Judge Sidney Campen halted an attempted redo election during the most recent court hearing on Oct. 6, while also ordering Pines officials to count all ballots by the end of the month.

In addition to ordering all ballots counted by the end of this month, Campen scheduled a trial on Nov. 15 to hear arguments on Farr’s eligibility and the board’s election decisions.

The board convened a special meeting three days after the previous court hearing on Sept. 27, where after voting unanimously to not count ballots, voted 4-3 to stage another election without Farr.

Elections Committee Chairperson Steve Habeger issued a statement following the ballot count clarifying further direction is being awaited from the courts.

“The next step in this election will be determined at a later date,” he said. “We express our appreciation to all the candidates who have volunteered to serve our Association.”