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Residents contest Collings Lakes election results, raise procedural concerns
Summary
After board election results were read, a candidate and a resident raised formal complaints about the conduct of the election, including missing return addresses on envelopes and lack of a paid-members list; one member urged restraint and criticized public complaints.
The Collings Lakes Civic Association announced results for three board tiers on Dec. 2, then faced immediate challenges from candidates and a resident who alleged procedural errors in the election process.
Election tallies reported by tier were: Tier 1 — Mark Wainwright, 33 votes; Tier 2 — David Blair, 53 votes; Tom Veneziales, 40; Logan Hammer, 12; Tier 3 — Donna Sutts, 16; Brian Trozatte, 4; Bob Sutts (write-in), 1. Vice President Donna Sutts withdrew from the Tier 3 race, leaving Brian Trozatte as the winner.
Tom Veneziale stated he was contesting the Tier 2 results and requested the election be redone. Carol Weldon, who said she served on the election committee, raised specific concerns: some envelopes lacked return addresses, there was no paid-members list to verify voters, and there was no third-party neutral to validate sealed ballots. "In my opinion this whole thing was done incorrectly," Weldon said, and she suggested removing certain people from the board, including Steve Slimm.
Steve Slimm responded that bylaw changes are being drafted by the association attorney and would be submitted to a judge, and he said the board is allowed to make changes without violating the court order. Donald Watson criticized the tone of the objections at the meeting, urging members to "be adults" and discouraging public confrontations.
The minutes record the complaints and the intent to contest but show no formal motion to overturn or re-run the election during the meeting. The contested items remain unresolved in the minutes.
