Post by Admin on Jan 16, 2018 9:07:41 GMT -7
Election 2017 Odds Update - Who Wins and Who Loses...
The 2017 Annual Election was put on hold by the court when Kathleen Rakela filed her lawsuit a few days before the Annual Meeting. At the January Board meeting sitting director and candidate Paul Rantallo was found in violation of the Covenants and given 30 days to correct the violations or be declared NOT "in good standing". He must either tear down covenant violating buildings or produce Board certified variances. A thorough search of past minutes did not find a single instance of the GLA Board granting Rantallo any variance for his non-compliant buildings.
In mid-January 2018 this is where the candidates stand according to a non-scientific analysis by the Forum.
In South Glastonbury the three incumbents, Dennis Riley, Kevin Newby and Mark Seaver are doing well. Many landowners we spoke with have voted for them. Others have assigned their votes to proxies with the understanding that the above 3 candidates will be voted for. Jerry Ladewig could be the next Ombudsman with many landowners favoring her. Clare Parker is a weak candidate even amongst old timers. Many landowners remember how she wanted the GLA to take on costly repairs for a county road. They also commented that she lacks the tenacity and extensive knowledge needed to be an effective director. Candidate Rakela has lost ground with many voters because her lawsuit has cost the GLA landowners over $10,000.00 to date and there is no end is in sight. Candidate Haley was always an unknown and a long shot. He was disqualified for not paying his assessments in time but he could still be a write-in candidate.
In mid-January 2018 this is where the candidates stand according to a non-scientific analysis by the Forum.
In South Glastonbury the three incumbents, Dennis Riley, Kevin Newby and Mark Seaver are doing well. Many landowners we spoke with have voted for them. Others have assigned their votes to proxies with the understanding that the above 3 candidates will be voted for. Jerry Ladewig could be the next Ombudsman with many landowners favoring her. Clare Parker is a weak candidate even amongst old timers. Many landowners remember how she wanted the GLA to take on costly repairs for a county road. They also commented that she lacks the tenacity and extensive knowledge needed to be an effective director. Candidate Rakela has lost ground with many voters because her lawsuit has cost the GLA landowners over $10,000.00 to date and there is no end is in sight. Candidate Haley was always an unknown and a long shot. He was disqualified for not paying his assessments in time but he could still be a write-in candidate.
In our opinion we believe that if the court allows the 2017 Election to pick up where it left off then Riley, Newby and Seaver will be seated again in South Glastonbury.
North Glastonbury is more complex. Sitting directors Charlotte Mizzi, Paul Rantallo and Richard Johnson are all up for re-election. Independent candidate Claudette Dirkers and perennial candidate Val O'Connell are also running. As noted earlier Rantallo may be disqualified if he fails to tear down illegal buildings or produce a valid Board variance in 30 days. O'Connell is widely disliked for her lawsuits which have cost landowners tens of thousands of dollars and led to the loss of Glastonbury legal liability insurance. Director Richard Johnson is well liked in the community and many people appreciated his recent snow fence installation assistance. Charlotte Mizzi is a CUT priest and has her following. However, several people commented that she is ineffective and has a CUT driven agenda. Claudette Dirkers is viewed as well qualified, hard working and knowledgeable. Many landowners we spoke with knew her and saw her favorably.
North Glastonbury is more complex. Sitting directors Charlotte Mizzi, Paul Rantallo and Richard Johnson are all up for re-election. Independent candidate Claudette Dirkers and perennial candidate Val O'Connell are also running. As noted earlier Rantallo may be disqualified if he fails to tear down illegal buildings or produce a valid Board variance in 30 days. O'Connell is widely disliked for her lawsuits which have cost landowners tens of thousands of dollars and led to the loss of Glastonbury legal liability insurance. Director Richard Johnson is well liked in the community and many people appreciated his recent snow fence installation assistance. Charlotte Mizzi is a CUT priest and has her following. However, several people commented that she is ineffective and has a CUT driven agenda. Claudette Dirkers is viewed as well qualified, hard working and knowledgeable. Many landowners we spoke with knew her and saw her favorably.
In our opinion the race in North Glastonbury will hinge upon Rantallo's actions at the February Board meeting. If he fails to satisfy the Covenant requirements for "member in good standing" then he will be disqualified as a candidate. That leaves Mizzi, Johnson, Dirkers and O'Connell. O'Connell has never received more than a handful of votes and there is no reason to believe that will change. So Mizzi, Johnson and Dirkers will win in North Glastonbury.
If this scenario plays out it will be a stunning defeat for the old timers. Several old timers wished that their group would replace every newcomer on the GLA Board and enable the return of Glastonbury to a theocracy. It is ironic that Rakela's lawsuit provided the time needed for a formal complaint to be filed against Rantallo and thus allow his Covenant violations to be uncovered. In our informal research Rakela's lawsuit, in which she claimed "irreparable harm" injured her candidacy because landowners are paying to defend the GLA and they would rather see their assessments go towards road repair and better snow plowing.
If the 2017 election is voided by the court and a new election with new candidates is allowed, then everything could change. But for now it appears that the old timers will lose seats on the GLA Board if the 2017 election is allowed to proceed by the court. A decision may not come until after the next scheduled annual election in November of 2018. That election too could be postponed or replaced by the court if they decide to allow the 2017 election to proceed.
If this scenario plays out it will be a stunning defeat for the old timers. Several old timers wished that their group would replace every newcomer on the GLA Board and enable the return of Glastonbury to a theocracy. It is ironic that Rakela's lawsuit provided the time needed for a formal complaint to be filed against Rantallo and thus allow his Covenant violations to be uncovered. In our informal research Rakela's lawsuit, in which she claimed "irreparable harm" injured her candidacy because landowners are paying to defend the GLA and they would rather see their assessments go towards road repair and better snow plowing.
If the 2017 election is voided by the court and a new election with new candidates is allowed, then everything could change. But for now it appears that the old timers will lose seats on the GLA Board if the 2017 election is allowed to proceed by the court. A decision may not come until after the next scheduled annual election in November of 2018. That election too could be postponed or replaced by the court if they decide to allow the 2017 election to proceed.
