RA Election Committee Member, VP Criticize Election Behavior, Insult Elementary School Children in Process

A member of the Reston Association Election Committee and the current vice president of the RA Board have called for changes in RA rules following recent endorsements and non-endorsements and whatnot during the not at all controversial RA board elections, which took a fun new turn over the weekend when "electronic messages" went out alleging that one group of candidates were a sleeper cell of a reviled terrorist organization, or maybe just the Republican party -- which is just as insidious an allegation in our beloved earth-toned community.

First, Dave Edwards, a member of the 2010 RA Election Committee, called the actions of certain board members akin to "elementary school election behavior," which is an insult to hard-working elementary school student body leaders everywhere. Here's his "electronic message" on this subject:

Subject: Re: Board Standards of Conduct/ Robin's emails

All -

I believe that the RA Election Committee must meet with the RA Board immediately after the current election is over to present draft changes to the current Standards of Conduct for use in future elections. The Election Committee either should be empowered to rigorously enforce these standards, or it should go out of business. Flagrant or multiple violations of these standards should disqualify a candidate from becoming a member of the Board, and, in the case of sitting Board members should lead to their dismissal from the Board. RA's legal counsel needs to determine what, if any, changes are required in the RA Bylaws to accomplish this.

The current elementary school election behavior by candidates and sitting Board members is not necessary in a community election of this type, and it should not be tolerated.

Dave Edwards, Member
2010 RA Election Committee

Meanwhile, Kathleen Driscoll McKee, the current vice president of the RA Board, also weighed in over the weekend, denying "rumors" that she had endorsed anyone on the current slate of candidates -- which is NOT something we've heard. (Only the president, at least one other board member and the CEO of the organization she leads have done that.) Like Edwards, she is calling for new rules once the election is over. Here's her "electronic message."

The community of Reston is so fortunate to have ten individual candidates volunteering to serve on the Reston Association Board of Directors.
No question about it, we all love Reston – each in our own way. It is these various interpretations of how to best serve the community that make this RA election so thought-provoking. And even, at times, controversial.
Recently I became aware of a rumor alleging my personal endorsement of certain candidates in the current RA election. This kind of idle chatter undermines the significance of the work of the Reston Association Board, lowering the public character of the election to the level of a popularity contest. Furthermore, such an unpleasant political atmosphere could actually discourage future volunteers from joining the process at all.
While I am hesitant to validate to this fallacious allegation by acknowledging it—especially as a sitting Board member—I feel that this raises a bigger issue about which I am quite passionate. That issue is Board Standards of Conduct, as I suggested to the Board President last spring.
RA Board members may not endorse or campaign for their own personally selected candidate(s). Board interference violates the principals of election fairness and creates an insidious advantage for the favored candidates. For any sitting RA Board member or officer, it is impossible to shed their public identity, most especially during the Board election. It is confusing and disingenuous to pretend otherwise. This election cycle has been tainted with charges of stacking the board, back-room deals and cronyism that should have no place in any election of a community volunteer organization. Given appropriate Board fairness, respect, objectivity and proper distance, then these current charges would be spurious.
Our exclusive, mutual interest must focus on electing the best candidates through a creditable and trustworthy procedure, unhampered by gossip and innuendo.
Going forward, I propose that the RA Board thoughtfully consider, define and publicize Board Standards of Conduct that govern our behavior at all times, and, particularly during the election campaign. As the Reston Association Board, we owe it to our members, and we owe it to ourselves.
We are, after all, neighbors.

These are the first official statements from anyone involved with the RA that haven't involved glib self-justification or disingenuous, self-serving comments masquerading as concern. In case you're wondering, this is what leadership looks like. And we hope whoever wins this godforsaken election has the cajones to follow through with what these two are suggesting.