By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

(June 18, 2026) Ocean Pines homeowners will have the opportunity to cast their votes for the community’s board of directors beginning next week, as ballots for the Ocean Pines Association’s annual election are slated to be distributed on Monday.

Five candidates are competing for three seats on the seven-member Ocean Pines Board of Directors. Incumbents Board President John Latham and Director Elaine Brady are seeking re-election. Director Patrick Lehnerd is running to retain the seat he was appointed to this spring following the early resignation of former Director Steve Jacobs.

Challengers Amy Peck and William “Bill” Pickett are also looking to break into the community’s governing team.

According to the Ocean Pines Elections Committee, electronic and paper ballots are scheduled to be sent out to voting-eligible homeowners on Monfat. The completed forms must be submitted by noon Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Election results will be tabulated by the firm handling the neighborhood’s voting process, MK Election Services, and the vote-counting will be open for public viewing. A link to observe the count will be made available as the voting deadline nears.

Candidates have said that communication, fiscal responsibility, infrastructure planning, and community engagement are among their top priorities.

Lehnerd, who joined the board in March, cites more than four decades of engineering and leadership experience in the defense and space industry. During his career, he served in positions ranging from engineer and team lead to program manager and director.

Lehnerd said communication is one of the association’s greatest challenges.

“So much confusion, turmoil, and angst could be avoided if we just communicate properly,” he said.

If elected, Lehnerd said he would focus on improving communication between the board, association staff, and residents. He also highlighted road safety as a significant concern, pointing to the need for increased awareness among motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Lehnerd described himself as a pragmatic and open-minded leader who listens to residents and works toward solutions rather than simply identifying problems.

Challenger Pickett brings more than 40 years of experience in operations, technology, and organizational management, including 26 years as a chief information officer for Maryland private schools. He also served 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and previously sat on the Maryland Education Enterprise Consortium Board of Directors.

Pickett said improving communication and organizational processes would be among his priorities if elected.

“Too often, information is scattered, hard to find, or inconsistent,” he said. “I want to help ensure that residents receive clear, accessible, and timely information, along with straightforward explanations of decisions and processes that reduce uncertainty.”

He also emphasized the importance of long-range planning, noting that Ocean Pines faces aging infrastructure and ongoing maintenance needs. Pickett said he would advocate for a disciplined approach to replacement and capital planning while also reviewing the association’s strategic plan to ensure board decisions, committee work, budgets, and operational goals are aligned.

Latham, the current board president, highlighted his experience serving as the group’s leader and previously as board secretary. He also serves as president of the Marina Village Condominium Association in Ocean Pines.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran with a master’s degree in business, Latham said he has managed budgets ranging from $50 million to $2 billion and led organizations with as many as 125 employees.

Among his top priorities is maintaining Ocean Pines’ infrastructure while keeping assessments affordable.

“Our roads, drainage systems, bulkheads, and other community assets require ongoing investment,” Latham said. “I believe we need long-term planning that balances fiscal responsibility with protecting property values. Recent budget discussions have highlighted the growing need for infrastructure and reserve funding.”

He also pointed to public safety needs, including support for fire, emergency medical and police services, as important issues facing the community. Additionally, Latham said he wants to continue improving transparency and communication between the board and residents.

Latham said his focus remains on protecting property values, maintaining amenities, and ensuring association funds are managed responsibly.

Brady, who has lived in Ocean Pines for 25 years, is seeking reelection to the board.

During her career in the newspaper industry, Brady served on several boards, including the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association and the United Way of the Eastern Shore.

If re-elected, Brady said she hopes to continue the board’s work of establishing policies and collaborating with General Manager John Viola on budgets that allow operations staff to maintain the community while pursuing initiatives requested by homeowners, when feasible.

Brady said she strives to listen to Ocean Pines citizens and work collaboratively with fellow directors and association leadership.

Peck is again an election challenger. The homeowner has a background in teaching and paralegal work.

Peck served on the OPA board from October 2021 to August 2022 after being appointed to carry out the remainder of a former member’s term, who had resigned. The board hopeful has run in the past, including in 2024 and 2025.

This time around, Peck is campaigning on a platform emphasizing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and resident involvement.

At an elections forum last weekend, she criticized what she described as unnecessary spending on projects such as a recent tiki bar expansion and electronic signage. She also expressed concerns about the elimination of volunteer advisory committees, which were axed last fall. The candidate maintained that the erasure of the committees has reduced opportunities for resident input.

Peck said she would support reinstating committees and expanding opportunities for public participation. She also called for greater transparency, citing concerns about the timing of board packet releases and decisions made through email votes.

If elected, Peck said at the forum last weekend that she would focus on asking questions, encouraging discussion, and representing residents who may feel overlooked, including young families, part-time homeowners, and residents on fixed incomes.

Homeowners who do not receive a ballot but believe they are eligible to vote are encouraged to contact the Elections Committee at elections@oceanpines.org. Residents deemed ineligible will receive notification.

The deadline to submit ballots is Aug. 5 at noon.