By Bud Meador | Sun City West
In response to membership concerns regarding the Sun City West Property Owners Residents Association non-compliance with its own bylaw election requirements, the board recently revised the election bylaw as follows:
“NO TERM LIMITS: Board members are elected to one 3-year term. To serve another 3-year term the member must be reelected. There is no limit to consecutive terms served.”
In addition, the board president issued the following statement: “Most of the current directors were either duly elected by the members or duly appointed by the board to fill vacancies. The appointments of the other directors by the board were not timely contested by membership via formal action. As such, the directors may fill out the remainder of their terms.”
I ask the following questions of the PORA board:
1. As there have been no membership elections for board members in the past four to six years, why has PORA stated that there are only three board seats up for election? All of the current sitting directors have served four to six years. All seven seats should be open.
2. Why does the president contend that directors appointed by the board are valid unless that appointment is “timely contested by membership via formal action?” How and when was the membership notified that the board had appointed members and extended their terms beyond the established three-year limit without an election process? What would have been the process for contesting this board action, especially since the board has not been conducting open meetings with posted agendas, as required in the bylaws?
3. How will the upcoming election be organized to ensure an honest, inclusive process? Will there be an election committee consisting of at least some of the membership? Who will tally the votes? How will the process accommodate snowbirds and residents who are disabled or otherwise unable to vote in person? How will you introduce the candidates to the membership so they can cast an informed vote?
4. What is the process for application to run for the board? This should accommodate snowbirds!
I await PORA’s transparent and timely response. I urge all residents to join PORA and vote. PORA is a true asset to the Sun City West community and needs your support as never before.
