By Greg Ellison

(March 19, 2020) Looking to chart continued progress after four years as a member of the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors, President Doug Parks unveiled intentions this week to seek another term in the 2020 board election.

“The first year, I was appointed to the board,” he said. “In 2017 I was elected for a three-year term.”

After filling a one-year board vacancy in 2016, Parks ran a successful campaign the following year and garnered the most votes in that contest.

“Pat Renaud resigned and then the board appointed me to fill his position,” he said. “After that year I decided to go ahead and run for the board and was ultimately elected.”

The 2020 candidate filling deadline is May 10, with the OPA announcing the field of candidates no later than June 1.

Since being elected by association members in 2017, Parks has been elected by board colleagues to serve as president for the last three years.

As his current term winds down, Parks said the rationale to maintain involvement boils down to desire and results.

“I still have the motivation, energy and desire to continue to provide service to my community,” he said.

Over the last few years, amicable working relationships among directors have proven fruitful for the community, Parks said.

“We’ve got a very good relationship among the seven directors right now,” he said. “If we can keep that level of consistency going for the next several years, we’ll continue to help move the community forward.”

Parks said accomplishments during his three years as board president included forming a work group to evaluate the purchase of Northstar accounting software, signing the Matt Ortt Companies as food and beverage contractor, building a new golf clubhouse and expanding the police building, and negotiating with Comcast to offer an additional digital service provider.

“I’ve delivered on some major issues with the help of my colleagues,” he said. “I’ve got a proven track record of tackling both major and minor issues.”

Parks said his approach is to foster a team spirit among directors.

“Getting things done and getting the board to work together as a team,” he said. “Those were some of my goals and, I think, I’ve at least partially accomplished all of them.”

The 2020 OPA Board candidates will attend a public forum on June 17 with a second forum on June 27 if required. The cutoff date for voter eligibility is July 3 with ballots mailed out no later than July 10. The deadline for ballot submission is Aug. 5 with results unveiled two days later.