By Greg Ellison

Parks leads pack with big majority of all votes cast in Pines election

(Aug. 13, 2020) The 2020 OPA Board of Directors election results were compiled on Friday, with the ballot count adding up to make incumbents Doug Parks and Colette Horn the winners in the three-way race for a pair of open seats.

Parks garnered 2,206 votes,  or 80 percent, followed by Colette Horn with 1,801, while newcomer Stuart Lakernick finished with 1,149 votes.

On Friday, Elections Committee Chairman Steve Habeger reported 6,975 ballots were mailed out to OPA members with 2,759 returned and counted. The rate of return for ballots topped 39 percent.

The Elections Committee rejected 20 ballots, largely for being improperly marked. Another 60 ballots received after the Aug. 5 deadline were not included in count totals.

The response was largely favorable for a ballot question concerning potentially employing electronic voting options in the future, with more than 65 percent, 1,581 votes, supporting the measure, while 822, or about 34 percent opposed the move.

Leading the pack was Doug Parks, who in a repeat from his first run three years ago, received the highest vote total.

“I appreciate being given another opportunity to serve Ocean Pines,” he said. “I still have the energy and desire, [which] leads to a responsibility to support and serve the community.”

Returned to the board, Parks expressed optimism about maintaining the momentum established during his first term.

“I look forward to getting into the next set of issues to keep Ocean Pines moving forward,” he said.

Cultivating a culture of cooperation among board members was a primary objective for Parks after being elected to an initial term three years ago.

“I’ll pat myself on the back,” he said. “One of the areas I really focused on was to try to get the team to work together.”

Parks said the effort helped foster a free exchange of information while maintaining a decorum of professionalism.

“Every one of them (other directors) had different kinds of strengths and perspectives,” he said.

Looking ahead, Parks said the most pressing priority is monitoring budget numbers as the coronavirus pandemic continues to stifle society and commerce.

“Everybody’s paying close attention to expenses as they are right now and areas that we can work with the GM,” he said.

Second-place finisher Colette Horn expressed gratitude for being selected to retain a seat on the board.

“I appreciate the confidence that was placed in me and for the text messages, emails and calls I received wishing me well in my second term,” she said.

Horn is hoping to continue ongoing work undertaken by the board, including further developing the strategic planning process, addressing short-term rental concerns and plotting drainage improvements at Bainbridge Park.

Closely monitoring financial impacts from the covid-19 pandemic is also a priority for Horn.

“We need to continue good oversight to make operations continue to run smoothly and efficiently,” she said.

Horn said reduced income from amenities and its unknown impact on profit and loss statements is also a primary concern.

“It remains to be seen what that’s going to look like at the end of the season,” she said.

Lakernick, while not happy with his finish, was appreciative the contest was conducted amicably.

“I was a little disappointed, but it was a great experience,” he said. “My two running mates Colette and Doug, they’re ethical, good people, so I have no problem.”

Despite being denied the opportunity to serve on the board, Lakernick plans to stay involved with the OPA.

“I’m going to be on some committees this year and who knows what the future will bring,” he said.

Lakernick said taking another run at a board position is a distinct possibility.

“I’m mulling over running again, but I can’t commit to it,” he said.

Regardless of his own involvement, Lakernick expressed disappointment at the lack of participation from community members.

“The thing that surprised me the most about this election was in a town of 8,452 homes, I was the only person to volunteer to run,” he said. “That’s kind of weird.”