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RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Somewhere I read that the council in a Condominium has some form of responsibility to enter into the political process. As I remember, it strongly indicated that all owners have the right and obligation to enter into and act under the law. Meaning I think: Owners have the right to form a political group for the purpose to democratically endorse and elect members of their choice to offical status (MOB) They have the right to solicit votes, and act in legal ways to promote their mission.
It went on to explain how this kind of action is a good thing as opposed to
an act to attack the board or cause devisiveness. Seems right to me that owners are or should be invited to join in this process and not labeled as trouble makers.
Need lots of opinions.
Thanks again to all who respond to my posting, you have no idea how helpful all your replies are collectively as well as individually.
JoeW1 (New York)
Posts: 728
Posted:
RobertR1 - in a manner of speaking the information is correct. It doesn't have to be so political though because it is important to respect that owner's #1 asset (their home) is at stake and the collective opinion of a few often has a huge impact on the majority. Even if that opinion does not win out, just the fact that there are different opinions can be divisive. At the end of the day, it's all volunteer and those that do can get sued. Is it really all worth the drama of political camps and divisiveness?
MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Isn't that what a HOA or Condo board is??? It's a group of people elected by the owners to represent their needs on a every day basis. The HOA is setup like a government with basically the Executive office (President, Vice-president, secretary) and a Senate (Board members). The rest of the owners are the rest of the american people. (Owners).
So the need to have a different "Political" force is a little redundant.

Former HOA President
JoeW1 (New York)
Posts: 728
Posted:
MellissaP1 - RobertR1 is describing the democratic political process of which an HOA or COA is. Invariably different forces or groups will form and prevail. There is no redundancy, just a continuom of the ebb and flow of the process in which an Association forms and governs.
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
To Melissa and Joe,
Obviously I didn't explain my viewpoint very well. My question; was political envolvement a suggested or recommended activity for the council. It is certainly not illegal, and in my opinion, does not cause devisivement any more than political activity in the country. Condos are not governed the same as the country. Our countrys political polices are reliant on one vote, one person doctrine. Condos are not, of course, we rely on the aportionment of 100 % representing all owners. Condos are not a majority vote society, e.g not an equal vote per member, thus not a democracy. Given the right set of circumstances the minority can carry the vote.
It is not redundant for our country to have more than one view (one political party). It is dedundant to explain how our country is based on more than one political party, that is a given. The point that all owners should have one intent, and that is; the good of the real property along with the correct management of the Associations money, is well taken. I have been active in condominium living for well over 30 years, and I have never seen any managed by majority rule. An occassional majority apportioned vote, but the day to day stuff and 90 % of the rest is always controlled by the minority, the few people willing to take on the responsibility. Unforunately, those volunteers are not blessed with any more intelligence than the one sitting on the sidelines. They can mismanage, misappropriate fund, waste money, devevolp ego bigs as the moon and once in a while run away with the property manager.
So I contend political activity ( and Lord knows it happens all the time without a label)should be recognized and incouraged by the Association. More good than bad will result.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836
Posted:
Robert, your not describing much more than what already exists. The people who are on the board are there because they are the ones interested enough to be there. So guess what? Their opinions are going to be the ones heard and acted upon.
It isn't the "politics" that is the problem. It is owner apathy. The inability for the majority of homeowners to act as such. My HOA I would say that 80% of the homeowners did NOT participate in anything until something went wrong (for them) or the Elections. Election day, I would say a good 30 homeowners would show up out of 107. The rest of the year it would be just me or 8 other homeowners that MIGHT show up to a meeting.
I wouldn't waste my time trying to establish some SEPARATE "Political group". Instead I would encourage those same people to ATTEND the meetings already in existance. You don't need to divide what you have. You need to work together and get what you need. Otherwise, your just never going to be happy or satisfied with whatever you get.

Former HOA President
RobertR1 (South Carolina)
Posts: 5,164
Posted:
Melissa,
Change comes with different opinions, not with the same opinion over and over. I do not advocate a political party, I believe the political process produces results. I may disagree with the Board on one occassion and politic against the boards view. Another time time I may approve of the Boards position and politic to support that position. I just fail to see how this action is devisive, in either instance. So if you can generate enough interest to support a slate for the Board and politic to get them elected, where is the foul in this. And if the feelings are strong enough to carry over to the next years election, is this bad? Maybe we are saying the same thing. I do not believe you should be a bad citizen because you don't approve of the Board, but (and this is my point), you are responsible as an owner to try and do the job yourselve.

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