Tropical Ridge Elections Stand

Comment Up

Ryan Anderson
President Tropical Ridge NA

The outcome of this meeting was determined in the first ten minutes when Ryan said, “We acted in good faith and there will be no new elections.” We all stayed to hear the “rest” of the story.

Last night the room was filled. There were even four deputy sheriffs in attendance, just in case. It was a peaceful and respectful meeting. If there was any character assassination it was not from those who wrote the letter of complaint regarding TRNA’s recent election of officers. TRNA opened up the floor to anyone there, allowing them to speak for two minutes, even non-members. I agree with Laurel Decker when she said that only TRNA members should have been allowed to address the Association but the new Board did not want that criticism thrown into the pot.

I am glad I attended this meeting for one reason—I believe Ryan Anderson’s clear explanation as to why the election meeting date was changed and that the previous Board acted in good faith. Was it appropriate to change the meeting date? That is in question. Some members that did not receive an e-mail or failed to read the e-mails or the web site, did not know of the meeting change and therefore wanted a new election. Elections are "traditionally held in January" and many residents relied on that. I can well understand their disappointment and feeling left out or disenfranchised in some way. Did the Association do everything it could have to get the word out? Perhaps not. Even Daniel Robleto wanted to know more about their outreach.

Jessica Plotkin, Secretary/Treasurer and
Sylvia Williams, Vice President

Are they a valid neighborhood association without By-Laws? They are not even a 501 (c)3 yet. So, if they are just a neighborhood association in name only, I guess they can conduct their elections any way they choose. I am not familiar with the rules but pose this question--if they do not have by-Laws, can they even become a member of the President's Council? This election episode has now motivated the neighborhood association to correct these deficiencies that have been going on since September 9, 2005 when it was first incorporated. Javier Del Sol is working on By-Laws as is the new Board. Ryan did say that they had been too busy in the past with cleaning up the neighborhood which took precedence over anything else, thus the failure of all past Boards to follow through on the process.

Panagioti had a point when he said that leadership is earned. I agree with that. Elections are very important. It doesn't matter if a resident of the neighborhood fails to attend meetings or fails to get involved in crime walks and community events. His voice is still important. The fact that there were members who, for whatever reason, did not learn about the meeting change, should be reason for deep concern from this new Board. One resident there, who is not political, even said she thought it was a "set-up." I wouldn't think that a new Board would even want to start its term under a cloud.

The neighbors were there for an hour listening about and speaking on an election already decided and an outcome that was not going to change from a new Board that was determined to keep its leadership. There were no apologies. Nothing else mattered.

To continue to say that NA's are not political is being utopian in some way. Just the very fact of having elections makes it political from the start.