Candidate forums have been slated for next month as four seats on the Reston Association Board of Directors will be decided in the election.
Eleven candidates in total are seeking seats on the nine-member board. Votes will be cast by residents between March 6 and April 3. Election winners will be announced at the RA board’s April 11 meeting, with the new board to be sworn in the following day.
Residents will be able to ask the candidates questions during the forums:
- North Point: Wednesday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. (Lake House, 11450 Baron Cameron Ave.)
- Hunters Woods/Dogwood: Thursday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. (RA Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive)
- At-Large: Thursday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. (RA Headquarters, 12001 Sunrise Valley Drive)
(There will be no candidate forum for the Apartment Owners’ Representative. David Bobzien is unopposed for the seat.)
Candidates in the three contested races are listed below:
- North Point: Arlene Krieger and John Mooney
- Hunters Woods/Dogwood: Syazana Durrani and Victoria White
- At-Large: Roberto Anguizola, Eric Carr, Mike Collins, Charles Dorfeuille, Ven Iyer and HeidiAnne Werner
More information about each candidate is available at the Reston Association website.
Residents who are unable to attend forums are encouraged to email questions to [email protected], or tweet them to @restononline using the hashtag #RAelection2017.
(Updated Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. after a third candidate withdrew from the election)
Three of the 14 people who were registered to run for the Reston Association Board of Directors in this year’s election will not be on the ballot.
Don Wright, who was announced as a candidate for the North Point seat, and Hank Schonzeit and Kevin Witt, who were both announced candidates for the Apartment Owners’ seat, have withdrawn.
A six-person race for an At-Large seat remains, along with two-person races for the Hunters Woods/Dogwood and North Point seats. David Bobzien now finds himself unopposed in the race for Apartment Owners’ Representative.
Remaining candidates are:
At-Large Director (3-year term)
Roberto Anguizola
Eric Carr
Mike Collins
Charles Dorfeuille
Ven Iyer
HeidiAnne WernerHunters Woods/Dogwood District Director (3-year term)
Syazana Durrani
Victoria WhiteNorth Point District Director (2-year term)
Arlene Krieger
John MooneyApartment Owners’ Representative (3-year term)
David Bobzien
More information about each candidate is available at the Reston Association website.
The At-Large seat is currently held by Jeff Thomas; the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District seat, by Lucinda Shannon; and the apartment owners’ seat, by board president Ellen Graves.
Graves has reached her two-term limit. Neither Thomas nor Shannon, who are each coming to the end of their first term, applied for re-election.
The North Point District seat is currently held by Danielle LaRosa. LaRosa was elected in 2016 but will resign at the end of her first year. The person elected to fill the seat, either Krieger or Mooney, will serve the remaining two years on the existing term.
Votes will be cast by residents between March 6 and April 3. Election winners will be announced at the RA board’s April 11 meeting, with the new board to be sworn in the following day.
The four electees will join five returning members of the board: Vice President Michael Sanio (At-Large), Secretary Eve Thompson (At-Large), Sherri Hebert (Lake Anne/Tall Oaks), Julie Bitzer (South Lakes) and Ray Wedell (At-Large).
Four positions on the Reston Association Board of Directors will be up for vote in this spring’s election, and the names of the candidates have been released.
No incumbents for those seats are on the list.
Up for vote for three-year terms are an at-large seat currently held by Jeff Thomas; the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District seat, currently held by Lucinda Shannon; and the apartment owners’ seat, currently held by board president Ellen Graves.
Graves has reached her two-term limit. Neither Thomas nor Shannon, who are each coming to the end of their first term, applied for re-election.
The North Point District seat currently held by Danielle LaRosa will also be up for vote. LaRosa was elected in 2016 but will resign at the end of her first year. The person elected to fill the seat will serve the remaining two years on the existing term.
Candidates for the seats on the nine-person board are as follows:
At-Large Director (3-year term)
Roberto Anguizola
Eric Carr
Mike Collins
Charles Dorfeuille
Ven Iyer
HeidiAnne WernerHunters Woods/Dogwood District Director (3-year term)
Syazana Durrani
Victoria WhiteNorth Point District Director (2-year term)
Arlene Krieger
John Mooney
Don WrightApartment Owners’ Representative (3-year term)
David Bobzien
Hank Schonzeit
Kevin Witt
More information about each candidate is available at the Reston Association website.
As defined by Reston Association, the board is responsible for the following:
· Determining the long-range mission and goals of the association
· Establishing RA policies and procedures
· Monitoring finances, approving budgets and setting the annual assessment rate
The deadline for potential candidates to file was Jan. 27. Candidates have until Friday to withdraw their applications, according to Mike Leone, RA communications director.
Votes will be cast by residents between March 6 and April 3. Election winners will be announced at the RA board’s April 11 meeting, with the new board to be sworn in the following day.
If you traveled or just tuned out from local news during the holiday season, here’s what you may have missed:
Lake House Review: Work has still not begun on a review of how funds were handled to purchase and renovate what is now the Lake House at Lake Anne. It was decided an independent review was necessary after renovations ended up to be roughly three times what was budgeted, and money had to be borrowed from the Reston Association’s operating budget to cover the deficit. The RA Board previously went through months of negotiations with the firm MediaWorld, who had offered to do the review for just $1 if volunteers agreed to help with some of the busy work, but after more than two months of back and forth, it appears negotiations have been stalled or possibly terminated.
Development on the Horizon: Per the usual here in Reston, there are several major developments in the works around town. In particular, just before the holidays, more news broke about Vornado’s planned development near Wiehle-Reston East Metro, Comstock’s hopes for a development near Reston Station, and an approval for planned lofts by Pulte Homes near Reston Station.
Very Little Crime to Ruin the Holidays: Thankfully, very few crimes made headlines in the Reston area over the holidays. There were minor break-ins at the Carlton House condos at Reston Town Center and the Hidden Creek Country Club, and a tragic accident in D.C. involving a Herndon man. In a bit of good news, the community pulled together to help find a teen boy who went missing in North Reston within 24 hours.
Fourth Spot Opens Up on RA Board: Just before the Christmas and Chanukah holidays, North Point District Director Danielle LaRosa of the Reston Association Board of Directors tendered her resignation. LaRosa also serves as the board’s current treasurer. LaRosa’s seat joins three others that are opening up on the board when three-year terms come to an end in April, for a total of four out of the board’s nine seats up for election when voting begins March 3. The candidate elected to fill LaRosa’s seat will serve the remaining two years of her three-year term. A Candidate Information Session will take place tonight for those who want to learn more about running for the board.
As we kick off 2017, what are you most interested in or concerned about around Reston? Tell us what you most want Reston Now to cover in this new year.
Reston Association Board Candidate Info Session Tomorrow — Anyone considering running for one of the four seats on the Reston Association Board of Directors is invited to attend a candidate information session Wednesday evening. Terms will begin in April. All candidate forms and applications for those wishing to be on the ballot must be turned in by Jan. 27. [Reston Now]
My, How You’ve Grown, Reston! — The U.S. Census Bureau has released five years’ worth of data about Reston and its residents, and the numbers show just how much the planned community has grown. Among the highlights in the information is a 7,000-person increase in population and a median household income that has surpassed $100,000. [Reston Patch]
Herndon Man Dies After NYE Hotel Roof Fall — A 23-year-old Herndon man died shortly after midnight on New Year’s in an incident on the roof of his Dupont Circle hotel. Reports indicate John Leonard was on the roof of his hotel when he fell into a boiler shaft and plummeted 10 stories. [Washington Post]
With four of the nine members of the Board of Directors up for re-election in the spring, the Reston Association is putting out a call for candidates and prepping for next week’s Candidates’ Information Session.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about running for election to one of those four seats is invited to come to the session to learn more about the process of becoming a candidate, and learn more about the duties and responsibilities of a board member. The session will take place from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4 at RA Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Drive).
The four board positions opening up in April include one at-large director, the apartment owners’ representative, and the directors for the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District and the North Point District.
Board positions have three-year terms. The first three board positions are coming to the end of their three-year terms. However, earlier this month, North Point District Director Danielle LaRosa — who also currently serves as the board’s treasurer — announced her intent to resign from her position at the end of the first year of her current three-year term. Therefore, the RA will hold an election to fill her seat, and the candidate that is elected will serve out the remaining two years of her term.
The other three positions are currently filled by Hunters Woods/Dogwood District Director Lucinda Shannon, At-Large Director Jeff Thomas, and Apartment Owners’ Representative Ellen Graves, who also currently serves as the board’s president.
Potential candidates must reside within the boundaries of the Reston deed, and may not have any outstanding balances owed to the association. In order to run for election, one must write a candidate’s statement and obtain signatures of support from at least 25 different households. If running to represent a particular district, all 25 households must be located within that district.
All forms must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Jan. 27 in order to qualify for the election.
Votes are cast by residents either in-person or by mail-in ballot between March 3 and April 3, and the winners are announced at the RA board meeting on April 11. The new board is sworn in on April 12.
Visit the RA’s election page for more information.
(Updated at 3:58 p.m.) Reston Association North Point Director Danielle LaRosa said she plans to resign from the board to spend more time with her family.
LaRosa will remain until her replacement is chosen. Her last day is April 11, and by the time she leaves, she will have served a total of three years on the board.
LaRosa announced her resignation in an email to the RA’s CEO, Cate Fulkerson, and other members of the board on Thursday.
“Due to family commitments, coupled with the number of board and committee meetings, I feel that my resignation would be best for my family and for North Reston as a whole,” she said in a statement. “I have loved being a member of this board and I will treasure the conversations that I’ve had with my neighbors as we’ve worked to better our community.”
LaRosa’s replacement will be responsible for handling issues such as the proposed St. Johns Wood development.
Mike Leone, the RA staff’s director of communications, said that LaRosa realizes that as a representative of her neighborhood, she feels whoever fills her position should be someone who can pay full attention to such projects.
“She feels [St. Johns Woods] is an important project that requires a lot of time and attention, given its importance to the North Point District,” Leone said. “Since she feels she needs more time for her family, she feels personally that it’s important that whoever fills that position has enough time and commitment to attend all meetings, like the Design Review Board, Planning and Zoning, and other meetings within the governing body, since they are so important to that project.”
In addition to being the representative for North Point, LaRosa also served as the board’s treasurer. However, Leone said important positions such as president, vice president, treasurer and secretary are decided each year during a newly-installed board’s first official meeting. Therefore, LaRosa will continue to serve as the treasurer until a new one is decided after the election in April.
“Right now, her decision to resign leaves the [treasurer] position to be filled as well, but it won’t necessarily be the person who succeeds her,” Leone explained.
LaRosa’s resignation means there will be a total of four seats on the nine-member Board of Directors up for election in the spring.
In addition to North Point, the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District representative, an at-large board member, and the Apartment Owners representative are also up for election. Those positions are currently filled by Lucinda Shannon, Jeff Thomas, and Board President Ellen Graves, respectively. Their three-year terms are up on April 11, 2017.
In order to run for a seat on the board, a potential candidate must write a candidate statement and obtain signatures of support from at least 25 different households within their district, or in all of Reston if running for an at-large position,
Candidates must reside within the boundaries of the Reston deed, and may not have any outstanding balances owed to the association.
An information session for interested candidates will be held at RA Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017.
The deadline to submit completed candidacy forms is 5 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2017.
Voting by RA members will take place in-person and by mail-in ballot between March 3 and April 3, with results being announced on April 11.
Visit the board’s election page for more information on running.
Photo: Danielle LaRosa / Credit: RA
The Reston Association has issued a call for candidates, as three Board of Directors members’ terms are expiring in 2017.
The positions that are opening up are for an at-large board director, the Hunters Woods/Dogwood District member and an apartment owners’ representative. All terms are for three years.
The terms expire in April for Hunters Woods/Dogwood District member Lucinda Shannon, at-large director Jeff Thomas and apartment owners’ representative Ellen Graves, who also serves as the board’s president.
Reston Association describes the duties and responsibilities of board members as:
- Determining the long-range mission and goals of the association;
- Establishing RA policies and procedures; and
- Monitoring finances, approving budgets, and setting the annual assessment rate.
In order to run for a seat on the board, a potential candidate must write a candidate statement and obtain signatures of support from at least 25 different households. If running for a representative of a certain district — such as the open Hunters Woods/Dogwood District — all 25 households must be located within that district.
A candidate for apartment owners representative does not need to be a member of the association and does not need signatures of support. The candidate only needs to write a candidate statement and fill out the required candidacy forms.
Potential candidates must reside within the boundaries of the Reston deed, and may not have any outstanding balances owed to the association.
An information session for interested candidates will be held at RA Headquarters (12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017.
The deadline to submit completed candidacy forms is 5 p.m. on Jan. 27, 2017.
Visit the board’s election page for more information on running.
Voting via the Internet and ballots mailed to residents’ homes run from March 3 to April 3. Election results will be announced at the RA meeting on April 11.
Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections is now open. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.
Today’s profiles are of South Lakes District candidates.
Andy Sigle is a telecommunications executive who previously served RA as an At-Large Director (2011-14) and Vice President of the board. He is involved in Reston in a variety of volunteer capacities, including on the Southgate Community Center Advisory Board, Cornerstones and many South Lakes High School activities.
Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?
AS: I believe that community is very important and is built most effectively when members get involved. I enjoyed serving on the RA Board during my 2011-2014 term, and am confident that I helped communication across the Board and beyond.
I spearheaded several successful initiatives including getting lights on the Brown’s Chapel Little League field and restructuring RA’s budgeting processes to better plan for our capital expenditures and maintenance. While on the board, I was not shy about asking questions when something did not sit right with me, and pushing for change when appropriate.
The bottom line is that I want to serve on the RA Board so I can help my community by putting my knowledge-and drive-to use for the Association. I am confident that I can add value and make the RA Board more effective.
RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?
AS: The biggest issue facing RA is the myriad of potential developments being planned in and around our community and the inevitable change they will bring. [Reston founder] Bob Simon laid out several principals 50 years ago when he founded Reston: environmental stewardship, diverse housing opportunities, recreational amenities, accessibility (walk and bike rideability), planning and design excellence, and commitment to the arts.
New development is coming, and RA needs to have a voice at the table so that Mr. Simon’s principles that have served our community so well for the past 50+ years can continue to do so.
RA must create and solidify key relationships and make sure that we get involved early in development planning cycles, when RA has a chance to influence plans. This includes staying up-to-date on potential development, and working hard to lobby Fairfax County decision makers on the association’s behalf.
Positive relationships with Fairfax County, Reston Town Center Association and large developers serve all parties’ interests. The best way to preserve the principles we value is for RA to communicate and engage.
We also need to plan for our changing community. The board needs to ensure that more development doesn’t bring with it a degradation of RA’s services and facilities, or our open space.
RN: How can RA members better understand what the board does and how can they be better involved in improving our community?
AS: RA needed to — and has — come a long way in the recent years in terms of transparency. More and more items are available on the RA website for perusal or inspection by all members, including such items as Board meeting minutes and board member information packets. This needs to continue so that all members have convenient access to available information. Read More
Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections is now open. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.
Today’s profiles are of South Lakes District candidates.
Richard Chew currently serves as the South Lakes Director and is seeking re-election. He also previously served RA as an At-Large Director (2008-11).
Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?
RC: So the standard answer by candidates is usually something like: “I’ve been in Reston a long time and I want to give back to the community.”
Well, I am a longtime Reston resident and I have been active in the community almost all of the time I have lived here. I’ve been involved in RA operations and issues for over 15 years. In 2008, I was elected to the Reston Association Board of Directors as an At-Large Director. After a break in 2011 to take care of an ailing wife, I returned to the Board in 2012 as the representative of the South Lakes District. Much has been accomplished by the association over these years and I have contributed to most of the top accomplishments. But there is more to be done.
I seek re-election because my commitment to openness, truthfulness, and accountability has enabled me to deal effectively with all members of RA. I seek re-election because I am strong advocate of good governance within the association. I seek re-election because I enjoy serving on the Board and advocating for meeting the needs of our members.
That is why I want to continue on the board.
RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?
RC: Future development in Reston is getting increasingly greater focus at the Reston Association. Maintaining the Reston way of life in the face of the inevitable changes to come. If managed appropriately, that change can benefit RA and its members.
I want to maintain RA’s excellent programs, services and facilities while carefully anticipating and planning for changes that will surely occur in the coming years. I am committed to working collaboratively with the RA staff, volunteers, and fellow Directors to serve the Association’s short- and long-term needs. I am also committed to maintaining RA’s financial health and using assessment dollars wisely to provide a strong quality of life for residents of all ages. In looking to the future, however, we cannot afford to minimize the current needs of the association and the needs of its members.
RN: How can RA members better understand what the board does and how can they be better involved in improving our community?
RC This an excellent question with no simple answer. The overwhelming majority of our members do not know what the association really does, much less what the Board of Directors does.
Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections is now open. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.
Today’s profiles are of South Lakes District candidates.
Julie Bitzer is one of three candidates for the South Lakes seat. She is a 34-year resident of Reston who has served in leadership roles for a variety of Reston organizations.
Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?
JB: After 34+ years of Reston living, it’s time for me to give back to this extraordinary community I call home. With Metro/Silver Line’s opening, we’re face-to-face with growth and change from commercial development and the influx of people joining our community, whether to live, to work or just to visit. We can and must channel this growth, making change work for us, to preserve and enhance that which defines our community — Reston’s founding vision of ‘Live-Work-Play.”
Living on the Reston National golf course, as a Reston Runner, a bicyclist, a golfer, a dog owner — I experience every day the joy of our open space and trail system, and its contribution to our quality of life.
I want more from my RA, and so do my fellow Restonians. In our conversations, we’ve shared our priorities and concerns. We want protection of our quality of life, and conservation of our natural open space. We want a governance that is open, transparent and most importantly, fiscally responsible to our interests.
Money doesn’t grow on the trees of Reston. I want to serve my community — to be part of the solution. I bring experience through 37+ years of Information Technology career, graduate level education with MBA and landscape design, coupled with serving a multitude of organizations, including treasurer/board member of a Reston cluster association.
But most importantly, I bring skills optimized in working as a team, listening, collaborating, and achieving results.
In answering the RA call to “get involved”, I will bring fresh perspectives and a challenging, questioning set of eyes & ears to my RA Board position.
RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?
JB: It is an issue of trust and having the support of the members. Many perceive “RA” in the broadest sense as closed, unresponsive, and difficult to work with.
Members question how their assessments are being spent, and the value they receive back. Is RA working for my best interests? Read More
Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections begins Monday at 5 p.m. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.
Today’s profiles are of North Point Candidates.
Dannielle LaRosa is seeking the North Point Director’s seat, which has one year remaining. LaRosa was appointed to the seat last summer, when Tim Cohn resigned for personal reasons. LaRosa, who has lived in Reston for 24 years, works in the financial industry and lives in North Reston with her husband and four children.
Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?
DL: I care deeply about Reston, I care about my neighbors and I am completely invested in our community. Residents since 1991, my husband and I have four children who participate in Reston’s community and attend our public schools. I have been an active volunteer for over 15 years, serving in numerous leadership positions to include PTA President, Treasurer, Girl Scout Leader, Youth in Motion Coach for Reston Runners, Religious Education Teacher plus many neighborhood activities.
With my extensive financial background, I welcome the chance to focus my energies on evaluating the financial side of RA’s operations and the Board’s decisions. I am cognizant of how much being on the Board these past six months has provided me with an even bigger view of our community, where it is headed and how, as neighbors, we can help each other and help shape our community.
RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?
DL: The biggest issue for RA, in my opinion, is how do we effectively manage development while maintaining Reston’s unique character and community. To do this, we need effective relationships with county and community organizations as well as with incoming developers. More importantly, we need numerous avenues for two-way communication with our members. Members must know that their opinions are needed, are valued and will make a difference. Read More
Voting in the 2015 Reston Association Board of Directors elections begins Monday at 5 p.m. We will be running candidate profiles Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. The profiles are in a Q-and-A format so each candidate has an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words.
Today’s profiles are of North Point Candidates. This is a Q-and-A with Charles Dorfeuille, a 13-year Reston resident.
Reston Now: What makes you want to serve — or continue to serve — on the RA Board?
CD: Through my involvement in [RA’s] Community Engagement Advisory Committee, I have seen many inefficiencies in RA policy that I have not seen the board properly work on. I see many ways to improve RA that I have laid out in my 20 things I pledge to have the board work on if i am elected. I want to see a Reston where more of us are taking full advantage of what RA has to offer!
RN: What is the biggest issue facing RA right now and do you have an idea to improve it?
CD: For the short term, I think that redevelopment and rezoning is our biggest challenge that if not properly faced, will have negative effects to our community for decades to come. For the longer term though I see our dues as a very serious issue we must at least try to take on.
RN: How can RA members better understand what the board does and how can they be better involved in improving our community?
CD: I agree that community involvement is a very important issue that Ra needs to work on. In my 20 points plan I have attempted to mitigate this issue through many potential initiatives and programs
- Grow a more vibrant and active public outdoor art program: Increase the number of temporary resident-made art installations especially during the summer months, with a strong emphasis on youth and senior involvement.
- Establish a stronger presence in the Reston community TV channel: Propose an “All about RA” show be added to the station. Also propose having future candidates forums and district meetings aired live, or replayed in its entirety on the channel. Propose airing the RA videos published on YouTube on a monthly basis as well.
- Establish a stronger working relationship with local schools: By establishing a relationship with all schools in the area, we would be able to establish a more visible presence in the lives of young people.
- Establishing a Youth centered committee: There are many young people in the community that want to be active, but don’t know where to begin. By establishing a youth committee that would consist mainly of middle- and/or high school-age members, we would have a permanent pulse on what young people want to see in an association that they are also members.
- Encourage a stronger referendum culture within the association: By incorporating non-binding referendums into the associations process, the board will be better able to gauge what members hope to see before making a decision like raising dues or changing the master plan.
- Make District meetings a permanent, yearly event: The idea that “the association is coming to you,” I believe, is where we should be aiming as an effective modern community association. I also see this as a great way for members to get to know their board members and what they do.
RN: Some of the criticism of RA recently is wasteful spending, lack of transparency and rising assessments. What can be done to improve or at least improve perceptions of all of these things? Read More
The partial voting records of Reston Association members were released by the group last week in response to a public records request by a member.
The RA says it released information on whether or not each of its 25,700 member households voted in the 2014 Board of Directors election. It also released members’ addresses, but omitted the substance of members’ votes and any other personal information.
The voter records were provided to RA member Irwin Flashman, a six-year resident, on Sept. 29. The RA says it was obligated to release the information under its bylaws and Virginia law.
Flashman said Monday that he wanted the records so he could analyze and try to boost the number of locals who cast their ballots.
“I want to increase voter turnout,” he said. “Something has to be done, and I think before you start doing anything, you need to know what happened.”
Fewer than 15 percent of Reston households cast votes in the March election in which three directors were chosen.
RA President Ken Knueven said the Association’s bylaws and Virginia law on property owners’ associations required the disclosure of the information.
“Under our bylaws and Virginia law, anything on record has to be provided,” Knueven said, adding that he wants Reston residents to know what was released and be comfortable with it.
“I believe voter records are confidential and should remain such,” he said. “We released only information we felt was not confidential.”
Flashman, who received a paper copy of the data, additionally requested an electronic version. The RA is reviewing that request and will discuss it at its full Board meeting Nov. 20.
Reston residents should want to know more about who votes, Flashman said.
“In a democracy, things are done out in the open,” he said. “The fact of voting should be an honor, not something you hide.”
Karen Goff contributed reporting.
Voting for the 2014 Reston Association Board of Directors election opens on Tuesday. There are nine candidates running for five seats. A candidates forum will be held Saturday, March 15 at Reston Association headquarters at 10 a.m.
Reston Association members will receive an election guide and ballot in the mail this week.
Reston Now will have Q & As with each candidate running daily this week and next. In the spirit of fairness, each candidate was given the same questions.
Today’s profile: Lucinda Shannon, who is running unopposed for the three-year Hunters Woods/Dogwood seat.
Q: How long have you lived in Reston?
A: My husband, dog, and I moved to Reston seven years ago because it had an independent bookstore and the most trees in Northern Virginia. Before that, I was living in Arlington. We rented a townhouse in the Dogwood Cluster, then moved East on Glade and bought a townhouse in the Wharf Cluster and about a year ago purchased a single family house off of Old Trail Drive. We really like the neighborhoods off Glade Drive and in that area in general. The woods and hiking trails are great, not to mention the water slide at the Glade pool!
I am originally from Massachusetts and I have lived in and studied many cities and towns that are examples of sustainable planning and land use, including Portland, Ore., and San Francisco.
Q: What inspired you to run for the Board?
A: I am always looking for ways to contribute to my community. I am a volunteer with the Virginia German Shepherd Rescue, the Reston Useful Service Exchange, Reston for a Lifetime, and the Fairfax Area Mobility & Transportation Committee. I attend the RA Environmental Advisory Committee meetings and help with their Sustainability Working Group; I also correspond with the RA Transportation Advisory Committee and sit in on RA Board Meetings.
I guess I am a policy wonk. I have a degree in public policy and administration and I have always been fascinated with land use, transportation, and empowering people to engage in the public process. I want to bring more diversity to the board and represent the Hunters Woods and Dogwood District Members of the Reston Association. I have worked in the non-profit/human service policy field for 10 years. I ride public transportation, walk and bike, have a community garden plot, and I do not have any investment properties in Reston, or anywhere else.
I want to represent the interests of my neighbors in the Hunters Woods and Dogwood District, including the non-English speaking Members of the RA. I think that it is important to engage all the Members of the RA and clearly define the RA’s objectives. Sometimes all that people hear from the RA is the rules and what they did wrong, but they don’t understand why we have those rules. I want to reach out to the residents of the Hunters Woods and Dogwood Districts and engage them in the Reston Association’s goals and values.
