Ocean Pines Elections Committee Chairman Steve Tuttle, center, stepped down last week, as he announced his candidacy for the board of directors. The committee unanimously selected Steve Habeger for the chairmanship.

By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(March 15, 2018) The Ocean Pines Election Committee, which organizes candidate forums and administers the voting process for board of director elections, is looking for one additional member.

A recent game of musical chairs has left the committee with four active members, one short of its full complement.

Resolution C-08 governing the elections committee states, “The Committee shall consist of five (5) members including the Chairperson. No committee member may be a Director or a candidate for office of Director.”

Committee Chairman Steve Tuttle announced on Friday he would resign because he is running for the board. Steve Habeger was unanimously selected by committee members to take over the chairmanship.

“Thank you. I’ll try to do as good a job as Steve Tuttle has done,” Habeger said.

Another committee member, Evan Smith, announced on Friday he would not continue because he plans to move.

“You have been a key player of our committee and I just wanted to publicly acknowledge that,” Tuttle said on Friday. “I do really appreciate you stepping up.”

Since the committee was completely re-staffed in 2016, its members have drafted two significant election reforms, with one adopted by the board in 2017 and another approved last month.

With Habeger, remaining committee members are Rick Turner, Mark Heintz and newly appointed Brenda Wascak, who briefly ran for a position on the board a year ago. Wascak and Turner are both former employees of the National Security Administration.

Advisory committee applications are available in person at the administration building on 239 Ocean Parkway or online www.oceanpines.org/ wp-content/uploads/2018/02/OP-Committee-Application-2-14-18.pdf.

According to the Ocean Pines website, openings also exist on committees for bylaws and resolutions, aquatics, budget and finance, communications, environment and natural assets, marine activities, and strategic planning.

To view a list of upcoming committee meeting dates, times and locations, visit www.oceanpines.org/ calendars/calendar/cat_ids~11.