Condo board election revolt
How Florida’s first Condo Ombudsman became the 500-pound gorilla
Valmore R. Lucier
Published by: Dr. Joyce Starr
ISBN 978–0–9792333–9–5
When Florida appointed America’s first Condominium Ombudsman one task
he had was to appoint election monitors to conduct board of director
elections. Preventing election misconduct and manipulation was seen as
a priority. The author was Florida’s first Volunteer Chief Election
Monitor.
incumbent boards lost 50% of these
elections
In 2004 condo owners in Florida gained the right to petition for the
removal of board directors. The incumbent boards lost 50% of these
elections. As the owners found out how much money was being saved by
kicking out the incumbents, more condos started signing petitions.
The author points out that most condo board members do not have a clue
on what their responsibilities are. However board elections are often
manipulated by board presidents, property managers and lawyers who do
know what they are doing and who do not want to lose cash-cow accounts.
He also states that most condo owners do not know how board elections
are suppose to be run so that the elections are fair and reflect their
true desires. This ignorance gives the incumbents and their condo
lawyer the ability to manipulate the process.
50 different ways
The author listed 50 different ways elections were tampered with
including letting renters and deceased owners vote, changing the
location or date of the meetings and using dated owner lists.
Although this book deals with a very important issue, it is of
limited help for anyone looking for guidance in running condo elections
in
Ontario. The rules followed in the United States are far different than
in Canada.
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