Spokesperson for "phantom group" defends tactics

Last week, RCSC President Warren Hoffmann criticized the inaccuracies in charges leveled against the board  by what he termed a "phantom group."

On Monday, the spokesperson for the group said that the Sun City Formula Registry is, indeed, a phantom organization, "and we have to be.

"We are deliberately designed that way so that our members will have anonymity, because they have to be protected from the retaliation of the board," said Anne Randall Stewart.

Stewart wrote a letter to the editor published last week in the Daily News-Sun, criticizing the Recreation Centers of Sun City board and blaming board members for profligate spending and questioning it for silencing critics such as former board member Ann Ullman, who recently was voted off the board.

Hoffmann accused Stewart of spreading false information.

"I stand by everything I wrote in that letter, 100 percent," Stewart said. "Mr. Hoffmann keeps sticking to this idea that everything is OK. Resident (after) resident comes up to address the board, telling him things have gone wrong, and he keeps sticking to this idea that everything is fine."

Stewart said her organization is a registry, and thus has no need for a governing body or official titles.

"He says we don't have a president or vice president or treasurer, well, we don't need any," Stewart said. "We are a registry. We are a group of individuals working alone toward a common goal."

Stewart also had a retort to Hoffmann's suggestion that registry members "do something constructive" and improve the community by volunteering on RCSC committees.

"Certainly there are many groups in the community doing good work that we could be helping," Stewart said. "However, we believe the Sun City Formula Registry is doing a much-needed job, keeping our eyes on this board and their activities. No other group has stuck their necks out like we have to expose the wrongdoings of this board."

Stewart said she does not believe her criticisms are unwarranted.

"We believe we are being fair. We call them as we see them," she said. "We are dealing with an unscrupulous board, and a mean board at that. I believe they are lacking in credibility."

As for the removal of former RCSC board member Ann Ullman, Stewart said she warned against the possibility of that scenario for years. She said her group is exploring the possibility of a push to change the RCSC's articles of incorporation so that it can not happen again.

"As it stands right now, six of the board members can vote the other three out," Stewart said. "So if you're new to the board, you are told to get with the program or be sent packing. We want to change the articles of incorporation so the board can no longer do that. They can try to remove a duly-elected member of the board, but they'll have to bring it to a vote of the membership."

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