Post by Poor Richard on Nov 7, 2023 10:54:32 GMT -7
Multiple GLA Votes Discarded Causing One Candidate to Lose
The Glastonbury Landowner's Association (GLA) announced the results of the 2023 Annual Election.
In North Glastonbury, there were four open board seats. Only three candidates ran. By default, the winners were:
Jaylyn Jensen
Doug Gill
Claudette Dirkers
Sabrina Hanon was elected Ombudsman for North Glastonbury
In South Glastonbury, there were five open board positions and three candidates ran. But only two won the election.
Leslie Everett
Alicia Roskind Dearing
Tim Brockett was also a candidate in South Glastonbury. When we spoke with him he thought that voter turnout would be low but he believed that he secured around 20 votes. Vote totals and turnout numbers have not been released by the GLA.
On September 14th the GLA board approved a 20-vote edict that required all candidates to receive at least 20 votes to earn a seat on the board. Their reasoning was that the GLA board only wanted directors who had broad-based support. Minority candidates were not desired. Landowners who voted for minority candidates would have their votes discarded in the event 19 or fewer voted for a particular candidate. The GLA seemed to forget that elections are a chance for landowners to choose who they want for representatives on the board. Instead, the GLA saw elections as a chance for them to choose who they wanted on the board.
In North Glastonbury, there were four open board seats. Only three candidates ran. By default, the winners were:
Jaylyn Jensen
Doug Gill
Claudette Dirkers
Sabrina Hanon was elected Ombudsman for North Glastonbury
In South Glastonbury, there were five open board positions and three candidates ran. But only two won the election.
Leslie Everett
Alicia Roskind Dearing
Tim Brockett was also a candidate in South Glastonbury. When we spoke with him he thought that voter turnout would be low but he believed that he secured around 20 votes. Vote totals and turnout numbers have not been released by the GLA.
On September 14th the GLA board approved a 20-vote edict that required all candidates to receive at least 20 votes to earn a seat on the board. Their reasoning was that the GLA board only wanted directors who had broad-based support. Minority candidates were not desired. Landowners who voted for minority candidates would have their votes discarded in the event 19 or fewer voted for a particular candidate. The GLA seemed to forget that elections are a chance for landowners to choose who they want for representatives on the board. Instead, the GLA saw elections as a chance for them to choose who they wanted on the board.
Those who voted for candidate Brockett had their votes discarded by the GLA. Their voices were silenced and their choice was ignored. In any other election in a democracy, Brockett would have won a seat as long as he secured at least one vote. Three people ran for five open seats. Up to 19 votes were ignored and then discarded. The voices and the choice of up to 19 landowners was nullified by the GLA.
The GLA ignored landowners again when they arbitrarily awarded 2-year director terms to all three North Glastonbury candidates. The North Glastonbury ballot stated that "the three candidates receiving the most votes will serve 1-year terms". Landowners voted to send three candidates to the board for one-year terms only. The sitting board then decided to require an extra year of service from the three candidates. Ignoring the will of the landowners will continue.
Four board seats remain open and they will be filled without any landowner votes. Eight sitting board members will override the choice of up to 19 landowners when they approve an appointment for a seat that landowners wanted candidate Brockett to fill. Glastonbury is no longer a democracy. This is totalitarianism.