The funniest thing happened in the Sun City election on Sept. 18 – a major board candidate forum was scheduled and a quiet little neighborhood chat broke out. The forum was set up for 4 p.m., and was adjourned by 2 p.m.
According to a Sun Day headcount when the meeting started at 1 p.m., sixteen (16) people were in the audience, some of them CAM staff members. That’s the lowest total for any election campaign event in Sun City, ever. Gene Harrison, chairman of the Sun City Elections Committee, said after the meeting that attendance later in the session reached close to 30.
But credit goes to moderator Bill Berendt and the candidates themselves. Bob Wainscott, Dottie Harrison, Russ Howard, and Steve Bytnar stated their career backgrounds concisely, and responded to two question posed to them by Berendt: What are the two biggest challenges facing Sun City now, and how do you feel the challenges should be addressed?
The four candidates are competing for three open seats on the seven-member board for an additional two-year term. Howard and Bytnar are incumbent board members seeking another two-year term. Wainscott served on the board in 2017-18 and wants to return. Harrison now serves as recorder for three board advisory committees and is seeking her first term on the board.
Here are each candidate’s response to Berendt’s two questions:
Bytnar –who is best known as the producer of the property assessment model reports posted in the Special Interest Group website by PTAG (Property Tax Action Group) and is vice chairman of the Communications IT Print Committee and a member of the Woodchucks, Computer, and Cue Charter Clubs. He believes the biggest challenge facing Sun City is the improvements he feels are needed on the community’s website. He proposes to use focus groups to develop ideas to fix and update the website.
Howard –“There are changing demographics,” he said, and he recommends exploring the new opportunities and challenges of the community’s schedule after 5 p.m. and on weekends. “We need a five-year strategic plan to develop cost-saving plans, especially in construction.” Howard is best known as past chairman of the Pickleball Charter Club and past chairperson of the Facility Advisory Committee.
Harrison –“The biggest challenge I believe are finances and communications. We need to determine what is a need in Sun City, and what is a want. Costs are escalating, and our resources need to be maintained. We need to provide respectful leadership for all residents.”
Harrison was a public school teacher and administrator in five states, and was a national finalist for Teacher of the Year in the Houston, Texas School District.
Wainscott –“We need to develop and implement a short and long-term strategic plan and review cost levels. There is a diminished interest in volunteerism now, and we need to get more people involved. We need to tap into the talents of new, younger residents.” Wainscott was an actuary in the financial services industry, was a member of the Finance Advisory Committee and chairperson of it for 1 ½ years. “I have the time, energy, and drive to serve,” he stated.
Because of the small crowd, moderator Berendt decided to open up questioning from audience members. Resident Joan Riffner said she would like to see a new written resident directory.
“The last one was in 2014,” she said, “and the website isn’t the same as a directory in the hands of all households.”
Before the forum could proceed, residents, Berendt, and candidates got into a discussion of the rules and types of questions audience members could ask that would be fair to all candidates.
Another resident asked about how board members would deal with the changing demographics in the community. There was back and forth discussion among everyone. After noting that there were no more questions from the audience, Berendt adjourned the forum at 2 p.m. It lasted about 55 minutes.
Early this month, each Sun City household will receive a ballot from the community’s election consultant company by mail. They must be filled out and returned by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, to be counted. With four candidates seeking three board positions, there will be five different ballot forms mailed to residents. Names of the candidates will be printed in a different order in each of the ballot forms.
