Campaign 2005
Commentary by Joe Reynolds

The 2005 Board of Directors campaign, with two seats up for grabs, began with the community wondering if there would even be two candidates vying for the vacancies. Hours before the filing deadline the field jumped to ten. Two dropped out quickly over the following days. Our final eight represent some of the finest folks in the Ocean Pines community, all bringing a desire to serve and a variety of backgrounds and experience.

Formal campaigning essentially ended on July 16 with the 2005 Candidates Debate sponsored by The Courier and OceanPinesForum.com at the Ocean Pines library. The debate format and the arrangement of the candidate seating area were different than any of the two prior forums the candidates experienced. Candidates actually had an opportunity to ask each other questions, and provide rebuttal.

Open seating, without tables in front of the candidates, and a large open floor area between the candidates and audience provided watchful observers an opportunity to see how each candidate handled the debate environment, as well as responses to questions. Two of the candidates stayed glued to their chairs during the entire debate, rising only for a closing comment. Five of the candidates rose to speak when called upon, but locked themselves into a relatively small area in front of their seats. Reid Sterrett was the sole candidate to utilize the open space between the candidates and the audience. Tentative initially, Sterrett worked the crowd like a seasoned professional during the second half of the debate, moving out to the audience and striding back and forth across the open space as he made his points while addressing questions from moderator Chip Bertino or other candidates.

Some candidates complained of the environment prior to the debate, wondering where they would place all their "stuff." Shared side tables or underseat storage were apparently deemed insufficient. Sterrett took the environment in stride and turned it to his advantage.

In his opening welcome, Bertino explained to the candidates a video of the debate was to be shown on OceanPinesForum.com. During the course of the debate, with video camera nearby, and clearly in sight of the candidates, all but one candidate essentially ignored the camera, even though by occasionally addressing the camera they would be speaking directly to perhaps 30 times or more Ocean Piners than the crowd in the live audience. Again, the one exception was Reid Sterrett. As he skillfully moved about the open space, Sterrett would pause from time to time and address the camera directly. One could sense he realized it was not just a camera, but a window of opportunity into a far larger audience.

In this debate Sterrett stood above the rest in how he recognized and utilized the debate environment to his advantage. Add eloquent presentation and a good grasp of the issues, and Sterrett's overall performance put him in a league of his own. Sterrett has put in many hours on the campaign trail since announcing a day or two before the filing deadline. If you have been to any events around the Pines lately, Sterrett has probably asked for your vote.

While a local paper recommended Reid Sterrett to voters as the "optimal choice" because he has proven to be the "most knowledgeable on the issues," he is not the most knowledgeable. While Sterrett has learned a great deal since announcing his candidacy, any unbiased look at the candidates from an issue-knowledge standpoint would probably put Norm Katz at the top of the list. However, given Sterrett's hard work during the campaign and a can-do, infectious enthusiasm that seems to permeate the air around him, one feels confident Sterrett will burn the midnight oil whenever necessary to come up to speed on any issue.

After first meeting Sterrett some weeks ago, I told someone jokingly he seemed like the Last Boy Scout, and wondered if he was for real. After seeing him on the OPA Board campaign trail, finally capped off with his debate performance, I'm now convinced he is indeed the Last Boy Scout, and he is indeed for real. Nope, Sterrett is not the perfect candidate. A touch of controlled anger becomes quickly visible when things don't go exactly as he thinks they should. With a background in government employment, some might consider him a risk on the spending front. As an Indian guide in northern Manitoba told me when he missed netting what looked like a record arctic grayling, "Nobody's purfect."

Reid Sterrett is an optimal choice in 2005 - for all the right reasons.

Norm Katz lacks the stage presence, polish, and eloquence of Reid Sterrett. However, when it comes to a willingness to work for the people of Ocean Pines, even in the trenches of committees year after year, Katz takes a backseat to no one. Sterrett holds promise; Katz is a proven commodity, a self-starter who isn't afraid to question conventional wisdom or buck the tide of peer pressure. It took guts for Katz to throw a Yacht Club accounting question at Sterrett during the debate, asking if Sterrett knew the details of some OPA creative accounting Katz claims is responsible for a substantial portion of the loss reduction at the Yacht Club. Sterrett really didn't know what Katz was talking about, but handled his response as well as could be expected.

Norm Katz likes to promote himself as the Ocean Pines budgetary watchdog. Katz brings what can only be called a reasonable approach to spending. He fully realizes pressure for assessment increases due to rising costs of goods, services, past board delayed maintenance, and staff may well leave OPA no choice but to up the yearly tab for lot owners. However, Katz seems determined to scrape away every millimeter of budget fat before voting favorably on any assessment increases.

Katz wants every dollar OPA spends to be justified; he wants every need satisfied, but verified. With an attitude like that a guy can ruffle some feathers. So be it. If you want a budget watchdog, Katz is your candidate.

Katz is also concerned about OPA's lack of political clout in Snow Hill, pointing to what he says is a deficiency in the current board's attitude in assuming an almost entirely inward concentration, as though Ocean Pines were an island. Ocean Pines is an island, but only on paper. We are surrounded by a gathering storm of growth, threatening our quality of life. Katz will work toward preventing the storm from becoming a hurricane, assuming the current policy of expecting two local county commissioners to look out for OPA's interests hasn't taken us beyond the point of no return. It is about time the OPA Board of Directors recognized it is responsible for protecting OPA lot owner interests in Worcester County, in cooperation with our local commissioners. Katz will strive to move the board in that direction.

Norm Katz is an optimal choice in 2005 - for all the right reasons.

As for the Town Center referendum, vote YES. It's a no-brainer, despite a last minute scare campaign by detractors. Ocean Pines needs a new Town Center building.

Uploaded: 7/17/2005