Reston Association Board Includes Two Newcomers

Karen Goff April 15, 2015 at 9:15am

Two new faces and two incumbents were elected to the Reston Association Board of Directors, the association announced at its annual meeting on Tuesday.

Newcomers Ray Wedell and Julie Bitzer will serve three-year terms. Wedell ran unopposed for the at-large seat. Bitzer defeated incumbent South Lakes Director Richard Chew and former at-large Director Andy Sigle to earn her first three-year term on the board.

Returning members: Michael Sanio, who ran unopposed for an at-large seat, and Dannielle LaRosa, the North Point Director who was appointed to the spot last year. LaRosa will finish out the term vacated by Tim Cohn. The term expires in 2016.

The new board members will take part in their first meeting Wednesday night, where they will elect new officers. Current RA President Ken Knueven, who is heading into his sixth and final year on the board, says he will not seek to remain in the president’s role.

“One key element of [our] new governance model is to allow for the progression of fresh ideas and viewpoints,” said Knueven. “To me, it is important to demonstrate this and lead by example. I’ve spent the last three years in the role of president and truly believe now is the right time to let new people, who are ready, to take the reins.”

RA Board elections are done by mail or online, but turnout is generally low, between 15 and 21 percent of all eligible voters. Voting in the 2015 election ended March 30.

Election totals:

At large: Sanio, 4,841; Wedell, 4,749
North Point: La Rosa, 1,469; Charles Dorfeuille, 161
South Lakes: Bitzer, 1,182; Sigle, 531; Chew, 390

In other news, RA gave out its 2015 Association Service Awards at the meeting:

Employee of the Year — Rob Tucker of Reston Tennis
Volunteer of the Year — Mark Elder, tennis instructor
Volunteer Group of the Year — Senior Movie Day group (Laura and John Cole; Pat Coshland; Michelina Johnson; Kurt McJilton; and Otto and Rosmarie Tubito)
Community Partner of the Year: Clarke

Photos: Top, Julie Bitzer; bottom, Ray Wedell/Courtesy of RA