OCEAN PINES – Ballots in the Ocean Pines
Association Board of Directors election are going out this week to Ocean Pines
property owners, who will choose two directors from a field of five candidates.

This year’s contest, the results of which
will be revealed at the OPA Annual Meeting on Aug. 11 at 10 am., is notable for
the clear differences between those running.

Following a social hour between candidates
and prospective voters at The Park Clubhouse on Monday, contestants in this
year’s race got down to business at the second of two forums this summer.

Following a three-minute opening
statement, each candidate responded to questions submitted before the event by
audience members. Each response lasted two minutes.

When asked for each their vision of the
future of the community, all the candidates focused on economics, with Bill
Cordwell, Sharyn O’Hare and Bill Wentworth agreeing that Ocean Pines’ aging
facilities need improvement.

Mark Venit and Marty Clarke, however, said
spending is fine only if the project makes sense for the community.

At the completion of audience questions,
each candidate was given the chance to pose a question to one another.

Highlights from the segment were when
Clarke suggested reducing payroll expenses at major facilities and when
Wentworth proposed taking $25 out of each homeowner’s property assessments to
be used at Ocean Pines facilities.

Ballots must be received by the OPA by Aug.
9, and will be counted the following day. For more information on all five
candidates, visit http://oceanpines.org.