The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted 6-1 last week to appoint Steve Ransdell as the new chair of the Elections Committee amid the current position-holder Tom Piatti’s departure from the community.
A voting sign is pictured in Ocean Pines.
File photo
By Tara Fischer, Staff Writer
The Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors voted 6-1 to appoint Steve Ransdell as the new chair of the Elections Committee amid the current position-holder Tom Piatti’s departure from the community. Director Steve Jacobs opposed the motion.
Jacobs claimed Ransdell, a neighborhood resident who currently serves on the committee, is an active participant in a contentious Facebook group, which should disqualify him from stepping into the leadership role.
“The Facebook page holds itself out as being parody,” Jacobs said. “… it passed parody several stops ago, and the content is much closer to being insulting, demeaning, and generally repulsive … Ransdell, as it has been reported in the past by symbols or emojis, indicated that he liked a lot of these comments.”
Jacobs maintains OPA Board of Directors election candidates Amy Peck and Sherrie Clifford are frequent targets for the inappropriate comments. The Facebook group in question was never named.
“It is apparent to me that this is a potential conflict of interest between his own views and the need for us to hold an election … the fact of the matter is, we can do better,” Jacobs continued.
Fellow members of the governing body pushed back on Jacobs’ stance. Vice President Stuart Lakernick argued that Ransdell, who moderated the Thursday, June 13 candidate forum, has proven his professionalism. He also noted that Piatti recommended the new chair.
“I will not let social media dictate to me or this board in what we do,” Lakernick said.
Director Jeff Heavner echoed the vice president’s sentiments. He maintained that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, as “we live in a free world.”
Treasurer Monica Rakowski took it one step further. “Far too much credence is given to Facebook accounts,” she said. “We have things in place with our election process that should not allow any one individual to affect the outcome of it.”
Jacobs consented everyone is allowed to voice their perspectives. However, he said, as there was no disagreement that the social media page contains vile commentary, it points to the conflict-of-interest Ransdell’s online presence presents for his role as the Elections Committee chairman.
Board President Rick Farr argued that any bias is a non-issue because the advisory group has laid out the voting and ballot deadlines before the appointment, and the election is to be outsourced to the Pittsburgh-based MK Elections Services.
Elections Committee board liaison John Latham also endorsed the appointment. ”I 100% support Steve as a chairman,” he said.
OPA residents Cheryl Jacob and Patrick Lehnerd were also approved for their first elections committee term.
The next Ocean Pines Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 20, at 9 a.m. in the Clubhouse Meeting Room.