There were surprises at a couple levels for board members of the Villages at
Mt. Hood.

In an election held May 15 at the Town Hall Meeting, Carol Burk and George
Wilson were voted to fill two of the three open board positions, but Rick
Applegate fell short on the ballot count.

Community members were allowed to vote for any (or all) of the three
hopefuls.

Burk was the top candidate, garnering 50 votes from the 78 ballots. Wilson,
who had served on the board as an interim appointee before winning the
previous election, picked up 41 votes. Applegate received 37 votes.

But the by-laws of the Villages state clearly that a candidate must get a
majority of all the votes cast, invoking a 50 percent-plus-one rule, meaning
40 votes were required to be elected.

There were only three candidates for the three open positions.

Several board members, including Wilson, Applegate and sitting board
member Pat Buckley were not aware of the majority requirement.
Bob Reeves, chair of the Villages, knew of the rule.

“Fifty plus one has always been there,” Reeves said.

Applegate was philosophical about his failure to continue, having been on the
board since its inception and having held the post of the Villages’ first chair.
“The community has a right to choose,” Applegate said. “If you stand for
integrity, you have to abide by the community’s voice. I’ve been there. It’s
been a long and bloody battle.”

Wilson was not pleased that Applegate came up short.

“I am disappointed for Rick,” Wilson said. “He’s contributed a phenomenal
amount. It is a loss for the community.”

Despite his conciliatory affect, Applegate did not go quietly from the board.
“I’ve long been a proponent of having positions on the board, not an open
election,” he said. “You should be able to decide between one candidate and
another.”

Applegate also divined the possible reason for his defeat.

“It’s political. I’m a proponent of transparency, but it can be used against
you.”

Burk’s election followed on the heels of a failed attempt last year when she
came up short on the 50-plus-one rule.

“The first time I tried, I didn’t make it, just like Rick this time,” Burk said. “But
this time, I’m in. I said ‘wow’ (when the vote was announced). I was pleased
at the support of my friends.”

And, as an aside, she added to the thought. “I go to every meeting anyway,
so why not have a vote.”

Burk has been a member of the local Chamber of Commerce for nine years
and is on the Tourism Action Plan board.

“We need to get all these groups working together,” she said. “We’ll get more
done and make a difference.”

Wilson took his appointment, almost, in stride.

“I was hopeful,” he said. “But you never know what’s going to happen.”
Wilson is a strong advocate against the exploitation of local resources, and
believes the community must come together for future planning or it will be
done from outside by those who do not have our best interests in mind.

In other business the Villages board:
— Presented plaques to Judith Norval and Nancy Dougherty for appreciation of
their services to the board; and
— Hosted a roundtable of political hopefuls (County Commission) Paul Savas,
Jim Bernard, Dan Holladay and Kevin Strausser; and (County Clerk)
candidates Sherry Hall and Melody Thompson.