By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(April 19, 2018) The Ocean Pines Elections Committee last Friday approved a motion to ban candidate advertisements from association publications.

Committee Chairman Steve Habeger said there is ambiguity about certain campaign materials in the government documents.

On one hand, the articles of incorporation state, “the association shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.”

Additionally, Habeger said the advertising policy for the Ocean Pines newsletter prohibits “Advertising considered adversarial, political, religious or suggestive in nature.”

However, two board of director candidates bought ads in the summer newsletter last year.

“The other candidates had been led by this committee to believe that such ads were not allowed,” Habeger said. “The situation needs to be clarified to be fair for all candidates.

“The elections committee unanimously feels that the mere act of standing for election in any organization is a political act,” he added. “We propose that, for clarification, the board direct that hence forth advertisements on behalf of candidates standing for election as a director in the Ocean Pines Association shall not be permitted in publications of the association.”

Director Slobodan Trendic, the committee liaison, said he was “in full support of the committee’s actions.”

“I believe clarity is required and your motion makes a lot of sense,” he said. “This approach makes it pretty explicit and it’s going to be up to the board to endorse the policy as written … I think the intent is to have this on the agenda at our next regular meeting, which I believe is April 28.”

Director Colette Horn, also present during the committee meeting, said she supported the motion.

“I think your rationale and approach is well-founded,” she said.

Marketing and Public Relations Director Denise Sawyer was also in support.

“I did have questions about this previously, before it went to publication. Those inquires were brought to the acting GM [last year] and before proceeding with publication, we were given approval to print,” she said. “I think having it very clear and on the books makes it best for both parties.”

Committee members voted 4-0 in favor of the motion with one member, Virginia Sutula, not present.

Also during the meeting, the committee voted 4-0 to approve upcoming election dates and Habeger presented four drafts for discussion: the 2018 letter to candidates, the process for drafting forum questions, a script to announce the election vote totals, and a script for the election validation report.

Habeger said the committee will vote all on four items during its next meeting, May 11 at 10 a.m. in the administration building on 239 Ocean Parkway.