This year’s contest to fill the Reston Community Center Board of Governors should be a straightforward affair.

RCC announced this morning (Monday) that just three people — all of them incumbents — filed for candidacy in its 2021 Preference Poll, which will help determine three seats on the nine-member board that develops policy, programming, and the budget for the community center.

William G. Bouie, Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt, and Richard Stillson are running for reelection with their three-year terms expiring this year.

According to RCC, its memorandum of understanding with Fairfax County requires that the agency conduct the preference poll annually regardless of the number of candidates. The poll is open to all Small District 5 residents.

Voting will begin on Sept. 10 after a candidate forum at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road) at 6:30 p.m. the previous day. Ballots can be returned by mail until 5 p.m. on Sept. 30, while online and in-person voting will be open until 5 p.m. on Oct. 1.

Board members will be officially appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors after the poll.

Brief profiles of the three candidates and excerpts from their submitted statements are below. The full candidate statements can be found on the RCC website.

William G. Bouie

An RCC board member since 2003, Bouie also serves as the current chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority Board of Directors, where he represents Hunter Mill District. He is the vice chairman for Public Art Reston and has won two Best of Reston awards for his community service.

“I enjoy working with Restonians, to learn about their needs, and wants, and to strive to make RCC a place for all,” Bouie wrote. “I will continue to work with the residents and the County to ensure consistency of programming, and to engage the business community so that they receive the inherent value in working with the Community Center and its programs as Reston grows.”

Lisa Sechrest-Ehrhardt

Sechrest-Ehrhardt has lived in Reston for 46 years and worked for RCC before becoming a board member in 2012. As an RCC employee, she planned and implemented social, cultural, and educational programs, though she is also a professional social worker and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant.

“My professional and personal experience will contribute to the social, cultural, and educational environment provided by RCC,” she said. “The goal of my community involvement and my desire to serve on the RCC Board of Governors is to ensure that all Reston residents are included in and benefit from the great programs and events RCC offers.”

Richard Stillson

This is Stillson’s first reelection bid after he was first voted on the board in 2018. A 49-year Reston resident, he was the first chairman of Reston Association’s Lakes Committee and the first president of the local citizens’ advocacy group Reston 2020. He also teaches at the Reston campus of George Mason University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

“It is crucial that the Community Center use its current strength to continue to initiate new programs and events to help rebuild the community,” Stillson wrote. “This importantly includes the new residents in the growing transit corridor who do not have the history of building our town from scratch and may know little about RCC. We must expand our programs outside the RCC facilities and improve our communications about our offerings.”

The Reston Community Center (RCC) has announced five candidates for the 2020 Preference Poll to fill three spots on its Board of Governors. 

The candidates include three incumbents and two newcomers. Community voting begins on Sept. 11. Each property in Small District 5 will receive a mail-in ballot to send back by Thursday, Oct. 1 at 5 p.m., according to a statement from the RCC. Walk-in ballots are due by Friday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m.

A candidates’ forum will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). Those interested in attending can email [email protected]. 

Below is the list of candidates with excerpts from their statements.  

Incumbent William Keefe

“Given Reston’s changing demographics, along with the financial limitations placed on Fairfax County social services, RCC must continue to provide diverse programming, including multilingual and multicultural programming, at reasonable cost to its many patrons. Cooperation with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Reston Association, and Reston’s community organizations such as Cornerstones and Southgate Community Center should be emphasized,” said Keefe.

 

Niels W. Pemberton 

“I’d bring my advocacy skills to RCC. Here’s what I’d do: 

1. Advocate myself for more movies & shows at Center Stage (Local Jazz & rock bands etc.) There should be an event each Friday & Saturday night at Center Stage. 
2. Increase outreach to all schools. 
3. Outreach to Reston newcomers. 
4. Honor Reston Association pool passes, in RA’s off-season. 
5. Expand Small Tax District #5 to the rest of the 20190, 20191 & 20194 Zip Codes and the neighborhoods on the periphery. 
6. Be a wise spender of money,” said Pemberton. 

 

Incumbent William Penniman

“My goal is to help RCC continue to serve community members of all ages and income levels, while working closely with schools and other community organizations, like RA, Southgate, Cornerstones and arts organizations. RCC’s efforts must continue to evolve to meet new challenges, including growth, climate-change and Covid-19. We need a long-range vision, adaptability and a close eye on the budget,” said Penniman. 

 

Incumbent Vicky Wingert

“Equity in all aspects of our programming and resource allocation must remain a central goal. By working with our Opportunity Neighborhood partners, this goal is attainable. I understand that a primary role for the Board of Governors is the responsible use of tax dollars. Prudent use of funds today must be coupled with a commitment to meet the demands of tomorrow. I have spent a lifetime engaged in recreational planning and bring that experience to RCC,” said Wingert. 

Lorri Zell

“Developing community inclusiveness and a sense of belonging begins with observing and recognizing needs in your community, asking for input, developing solutions together and then executing initiatives.This has been my approach to community involvement and engagement since I observed a need for and began a toddler program 20 years ago to address an unserved population,” said Zell. 

Photos courtesy of the RCC and via the RCC Facebook Page

Two incumbents and a newcomer will join the Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors for a three-year term that begins in early November.

Incumbents Beverly Cosham and Paul Thomas, as well as newcomer Laurie Dodd, will begin their terms on Nov. 4. The candidates earned the most votes in RCC’s annual preference poll, which is used to guide board appointments.

At the request of Hunter Mill District Supervisor Cathy Hudgins, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed the three Reston residents to the board.

Michelle Moyer will leave the board after serving two three-year terms.

RCC wrote the following about the winning candidates:

Beverly Cosham is the current Chair of the RCC Board of Governors. She has served on RCC’s Board for six terms. She has been a resident of Reston since the 1960s and is active in many other civic and arts organizations, including the Reston Community Orchestra, the Reston Chorale and the Reston Community Players. She has served three terms on the Advisory Board of ARTSFAIRFAX. 

Laurie Dodd has lived in Reston for more than 20 years. She is an attorney in private practice. She has served on the boards of Reston Swim Team Association, Reston Children’s Center and her church. Dodd has been an active volunteer with Coalition for a Planned Reston, Rescue Reston, Reston Runners and the Embry Rucker Shelter, among others. 

Paul Thomas will serve his second term on the RCC Board of Governors. He grew up in Reston and has served many community organizations, including Reston Association, the Reston Swim Team Association and the Reston Historic Trust. He also served on the Reston Master Plan Special Study Task Force, and is currently president of the South Lakes High School PTSA.

Thomas received the most votes (1,637), while Dodd came in second with 1,384 votes. Cosham earned 1,337 votes while Moyer received 1,219 votes and Robert Petrine received 1,143 votes.

Photo via RCC

Herndon-based Company Acquires Silicon Valley Company — iDirect Government, a Herndon-based unit of Singapore’s ST Engineering paid $20 million in cash to acquire Glowlink Communications Technology. [iDirect Government]

Reston Semi-Annual Book Sale Kicks Off Today — The book sale is open for Reston Friends today from 5-8 p.m. at Reston Regional Library. It will open up to the public for the rest of the week. [Reston Regional Library]

Last Week to Vote in Preference Poll — The deadline to vote in Reston Community Center’s annual preference poll for online and in-person ballots is on Friday, Sept. 27. Mailed ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. [Reston Community Center]

‘Meet Me at the Movies’ for Seniors — Reston Association and Reston Town Center Bow Tie Cinemas presents the 25th anniversary of the movies series. This month, seniors can watch “The Best of Enemies” at 9:15 a.m. at the cinema. [Reston Town Center]

Staff Photo by Jay Westcott

Thursday Takeover with Lululemon — Enjoy a 45-minute sweat session at the Reston Town Center’s pavilion with Lululemon ambassador Cameron. Class is free and begins at 6 p.m. [Reston Town Center]

New Exhibit Comes to Signature — Maremi Andreozzi’s work will be on display at the Greater Reston Arts Center’s satellite gallery at the apartment building in Reston Town Center. The exhibition, “Hidden Histories,” begins today and runs through January 7. [Greater Reston Arts Center]

Voting Now Open for Reston Community Center Preference Poll — Voting is now open for this year’s preference poll, which offers five candidates for three, three-year positions on RCC’s Board of Governors. [Reston Community Center]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

Candidate filing is now open for Reston Community Center’s Board of Governors.

RCC is seeking to fill three seats on the nine-member board, which oversees policies, programs and financing planning for the center.

Residents from Small District 5 who are age 18 or older are eligible to run. Candidates must complete a candidacy statement for names to be placed on the preference poll ballot.

The filing deadline is August 15 at 5 p.m. Forms are available online.

Voting will run from September 6 through September 27. The deadline for mailed ballots is September 26 at 5 p.m. and September 27 at 5 p.m. for online or walk-in ballots.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will appoint members to serve on the board after voters indicate their preferences in the annual poll. Each member will serve a three-year term.

Logo via Reston Community Center