By Greg Ellison

(June 17, 2021) Two newcomers, one prior candidate and one incumbent, all jockeying for two open seats, faced off during the Ocean Pines 2021 Board election forum last Wednesday.

The need to incorporate wider community voices was a common thread offered by Stuart Lakernick, Rick Farr and David Hardy, while current Director Frank Daly highlighted financial and infrastructural improvements during the nearly two-hour question-and-answer session.

The evening debate held in the Assateague Room of the community center began with opening statements that started with Daly.

Following an unsuccessful election bid in 2016, Daly made the cut in 2018 and asked voters to award him a second term, saying the “weak business practices” of previous boards had been corrected during his tenure.

Daly, a fulltime Pines resident since 2013, said residents who had lost confidence and trust in elected association leadership regained their faith over the last three years.

In addition to stronger financial oversight and successfully executed capital projects, Daly pointed to other first-term benchmarks such as assessment rates that increased minimally from $986-$996 between FY19-21.

Daly also said management of association employees has improved in recent years, with morale and staff retention at all-time highs.

Daly also attempted to differentiate himself from the competition as an independent voice on the board.

“Other candidates will attempt to hide the fact that they get their marching orders from a special interest political action group,” he said.

Daly said his “marching orders” come from the 8,000-plus association members.

“My core values of honesty, integrity and independence focus my efforts not on special interests [but] only on yours, the homeowner,” he said.

Next up was Lakernick, who came in third for a pair of openings during the 2020 board election.

Lakernick, a chiropractic functional neurologist by trade, promised proven leadership and experienced financial management, adding that he had developed “strong listening and communication skills” during his decades of practicing outside Philadelphia

Lakernick also emphasized the need to extend respect and kindness to all. During the past year troubling events have unfolded, Lakernick said, including legal actions against the board and the resignation of a “star employee” due to workplace tensions.

“Do you want this to stop?” he said. “This year, perhaps more than before, who you elect will determine the long-term success of Ocean Pines.”

Lakernick pledged to provide equal representation for full and part-time residents.

While thanking the 1,100-plus members who supported his board run last year, Lakernick expressed hope others would consider following suit this election.

Offering remarks next was first time board candidate Hardy, a materials scientist and engineer who brings nearly half a century of military and federal government experience to the table.

“I have a number of graduate degrees in the hard sciences,” he said.

Hardy, who was on active-duty with the U.S. Army for half a dozen years starting in 1974, became an active reservist for the remainder of a two-decade military career.

“I was running both a military career as well as a private sector career,” he said.

Hardy also highlighted having launched and operated a number of start-up companies.

“You should run any operation as a business,” he said. “Not everything has to be a cost center … but you need to keep an eye out for how you’re managing … because if you don’t live within your budget, you don’t have a business that will last very long.”

Currently, Hardy maintains a foot in academia as an adjunct professor at Cecil College in Cecil County and is employed as a federal civilian engineer at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Harford County.

“I can’t talk fully about the work that I do,” he said.

Among his clearance-only tasks, Hardy said he has assisted with the covid-19 pandemic response and vaccine rollout.

While nearing retirement, Hardy plans to live full time in the Pines once unencumbered professionally.

“I look forward to being involved and bringing a new perspective to the Ocean Pines community,” he said. “I do believe everyone in the community should have an opportunity to have a voice in what’s done.”

Last to offer opening remarks was Farr, who thanked the nearly capacity crowd for attending on an evening marked by heavy downpours.

After buying property in Ocean Pines more than two decades ago, Farr began full-time residency three years ago.

“I’m a retired U.S. Air Force combat veteran,” he said.

Before retiring in 2007 as a master sergeant, Farr served stateside and abroad for 22 years.

“I was in a number of combat operations around world,” he said.

Farr said his military experience proved invaluable as he moved into the corporate realm.

“I’m currently vice president of human resources for a IT cyber firm out of D.C,” he said.

Farr also highlighted his teaching experience with the Community College of the Air Force.

“I taught leaders how to manage and how to lead people,” he said.

Curriculum content included situational leadership, conflict resolution and time management, Farr said.

If elected, Farr promised to bring more integrity to the board.

“I’m not a politician,” he said. “I’m here for the people [and] here for the community.”

Farr also pledged to represent the ever-increasing number of families living year round in Ocean Pines.

“Our demographics have changed where we have a lot of youth … that are here going to schools,” he said. “We want to make sure that we do everything that we can to make their lives better.”

Short-term rentals was the first topic raised among more than a dozen questions posed with candidates selected in random order allotted a two-minute response window.

Lakernick said Worcester County has already enacted rental regulations and expressed opposition to enacting further restrictions.

In terms of enforcement, Lakernick said after conferring with County Commissioner Chip Bertino, he was told the short-term rental regulations include a complaint-driven mechanism.

Lakernick said the county, which collects rental-licensing fees, should be accountable for addressing complaints about rentals, not the association.

Hardy, who acknowledged renting his own property on occasion, has followed county rules and obtained licensing.

“Everyone should comply,” he said.

Advocating limiting bureaucratic growth in government, Hardy said he favored exploring ways to help Worcester County enforce regulations.

Noting that problems generally arise from only a small percentage of short-term rentals, he said he doubted that anyone who is not complying with county regulations now would follow added regulations.

Farr said the association should strive to educate residents to assure licensing procedures are clearly understood.

Saying most of the complaints concern parking, trash and noise, Farr told the audience the latter two could be more easily addressed. He recommended instituting quiet hours and holding property owners responsible for rental complaints from neighbors.

Daly, who is a driving force behind the associations’ current effort to amend rental regulations, said the goal is not more restrictive rules, but more effective ones.

Daly said one property owner who openly refused to comply was ultimately fined $500 after renting for an entire season and netting profits in the tens of thousands.

“Worcester County enforcing is a myth,” he said.

Candidates were also asked how they might improve the rapport between board members.

Farr replied that personality clashes should never override what serves the best interests of the larger community.

“I’m not in politics, at all, and I don’t want to be in politics” he said.

He stressed the importance of board members working as colleagues and maintaining professionalism.

“It’s important to have open communication,” he said.

Farr said clear channels avoid dysfunction and stories being told outside of the boardroom, “which is extremely unprofessional,” he said.

Hardy said his experience has shown that peer-relations reviews were helpful.

“Do you respect what your peers believe to be the truth?” he said.

Innuendo and rumor should never enter the equation when working within a group dynamic, Hardy said.

“You make decisions based upon fact and not near fact,” he said.

“You make decisions and, as you walk away, do not backstab people,” he said. “I’ve spent too many years as a professional.”

Highlighting his earlier ties to the Lions Club and Rotary International, Lakernick said Rotary’s “Four-way Test” — is it truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build good will and better relationships, will it be beneficial to all concerned — is the approach he would take as a board member.

Daly disputed the assertion that the current board hasn’t been functioning effectively.

“We have two directors on … opposite ends of the spectrum that don’t get along real well, if you read the media,” he said.

Daly said outside of a pair of 3-4 votes this year, one concerning the removal of a director and the other to release an un-redacted B-08 ethics report, most board decisions have garnered five or more members in agreement.

“That tells you that people that probably aren’t on [a] Christmas card list with each other are working together,” he said.

By and large, the current board listens to other members and collaborates on issues of importance, Daly said.

“I stay in the middle and work with both sides to accomplish goals,” he said. “That’s how I survive on the board.”

The Ocean Pines Elections Committee is holding a second forum, online, with date and time yet to be determined.

Election ballots, which will be mailed the week of July 12, are due by Aug. 11 to be followed by a vote count on Aug. 13 beginning at 10 a.m.

The OPA Annual Homeowners Meeting takes place on Aug. 14 with time and venue yet to be announced.

For questions about the election, or to submit questions for the second candidate forum email elections@oceanpines.org.