Directors clarify election procedure

Recreation Centers of Sun City directors clarified Thursday how next month's election will work, and one official encouraged voters to get creative with their ballots.

With four people vying for four seats, and with the ballot asking voters to pick four people, Director Don Schordje has had his hands full explaining what voters need to do.

"This is an unusual situation we find ourselves in," Schordje said. "I don't know if this has ever happened before."

There are three, three-year terms up for grabs along with one, one-year term. The question people have been asking is: How will the board determine who gets the one-year term?

"The candidates who receive the most votes will get the three-year terms, and the one who finishes with the lowest vote total will get the one-year term," Schordje said.

That seems reasonable enough, except that residents have four seats to vote for and only four candidates. Schordje said voters need to get creative.

"If there is a candidate who you feel is less qualified, withhold your vote for that candidate," Schordje said. "That way, if others tend to agree with you, that candidate will receive the least votes and will get the one-year term. The most important thing, however, is that you get out and vote."

Director Bill Johnson said he heard an interesting suggestion from one of the candidates.

"The candidate was telling people, ‘only vote for me,'" Johnson said. "That helps the candidate even more, because it brings down all three opponents' vote tallies."

The four candidates for the board are Tom Loegering, Ann Ullman, Diane Worth and current board member Gene Westemeier. The election will be Dec. 9.

For more information, visit www.sunaz.com.

Jeff Dempsey may be reached at 623-876-2531 or jdempsey@yourwestvalley.com.