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Shouldn't our HOA elected officials be impartial?

Discussion in 'Broadlands Community Issues' started by Brewer, Mar 2, 2008.

  1. Brewer

    Brewer New Member

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    OK, all hospital issues aside, shouldn't our elected HOA officials be impartial when it comes to matter directly affecting all of our community on such a grand scale? No seriously, I'm asking....I really don’t know the answer, but I would think it's 'yes'.

    If you turn to page 6 of today's Washington Post's Loudoun Extra section you will find a 6 paragraph editorial signed by our HOA President, Mr. Cliff Keirce. In it he explains INOVA's short comings and HCA's positives, which I would interpret as him being quite pro BRMC. That's fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but should he, as our HOA president, have it printed in the Washington Post? I would think this would give an unfair advantage to HCA, being able to say "Well, Cliff Keirce, speaking as the president of the Broadlands Home Owners Association, supports us, shouldn't you?"

    Again, I understand we elect officials based on their platforms, but something about having our HOA president share his opinion in the Post seems improper.

    Oh, and for the record, I don’t care either way if they build it or not. As a volunteer firefighter here in Ashburn, I welcome more medical facilities, but on the other hand if I was a firefighter in South Riding, I would probably want something closer to me.

    Brewer.
     
  2. decalr

    decalr Member

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    Our HOA officials should continue to express their opinions.
     
  3. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    ANd if they are public figures or close connections to an topic such as HCA, they should state that also. Donna who I never met gets crucified here about all her connections and she always says who she is. I agree that everyone is entiled to their opinion but when you are an public figure such as HOA president or on an committee of one of our county supervisors who is going to possibly vote on this topic someday those connections should be public. That just goes with the territory of being a public figure. This is not about ones private life but about ones public life.
     
  4. mwb2218

    mwb2218 New Member

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    I don't see how Cliff's article should not be printed: It does not state "As a member of the HOA board, or speaking on behalf of the residents on Broadlands" Its just his opinion and he is entitled to one.
     
  5. Silence Dogood99

    Silence Dogood99 New Member

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  6. Silence Dogood99

    Silence Dogood99 New Member

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    First, thank you for your service as a firefighter! You guys rock and we appreciate all that you do for us.

    It's no different than if you had written a letter to the editor (not an editorial) and signed it. Would people say then that "Ashburn firefighters support having a hospital closer to Broadlands"?

    Note that he DID NOT say he was "speaking as the president of the Broadlands HOA..."
     
  7. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Ummm, when you vote for someone, don't you vote for the person who is most PARTIAL to your thoughts and opinions?

    As for impartiality, did you know that a current board member works for Inova Loudoun hospital.

    Our HOA board members, as individuals, are entitled to their opinions and certainly have a right to express their opinions verbally or in print, for or against the hospital.

    Lee, I was reading a Hawaii forum last night and I did not notice your most recent post. Considering how many other threads and forums you have posted THE SAME INFO, you may want to double check the internet and make sure you did not miss any other places. ;)
     
  8. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Brewer-
    Thanks for sharing your concern, but I will keep my First amendment rights, regardless of my position on the HOA. If you, or others don't like that, you are free to vote for someone else should I choose to run again. (I'm assuming you are a Broadlands resident.)

    I also listed a disclaimer with the letter, stating my position on the HOA, but that the comments were my own, not the HOA's. The Post chose not to list that.
    If you don't believe me, you can confirm that with Paul Bernstein of the Post.
     
  9. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    T8 and you have not even seen the good ones such as the architecture forums that I post on since they are not open to the public. That is where the real fun begins:pofl:all the others you see are just child's play;) You want to see serious personal attacks and not by me, hang out some of the architecture and planning forums:) Some of the thin skinned people around here would not last two minutes over there. ha ha ha ha ha ha
     
  10. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    Agendas

    Everyone has one, but some are forthright enough to make them transparent.

    Cliff is entitled to his opinions, and I think that it is a BIG PLUS that he is willing to be vocal about them. I not only think that it is appropriate that Cliff made his opinion known, but applaudable!

    I don't think that elected officials should be impartial, but they should be receptive to opinions that differ with their own. That doesn't mean that they have to adopt them, but just to consider them.

    Sidebar: Cliff probably does not have a future in politics, if only because speaking your mind and specificity is frowned upon. Half truths and generalizations fuel the train that runs fast track to the top of politics.
     
  11. Brewer

    Brewer New Member

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    See, this is why I never post on this board...someone always takes it personally....

    Oh Cliff, relax....this is business, not personal. I dont care about you, I am referring to the "Office of the preseident of the Broadlands HOA" and whether or not that office should express it's opinion. Hell, I voted for you and shared drinks with you at Kaosdad's house a few months ago.

    If I were you, I would be seriously pissed that the Post didnt print that disclaimer......

    Silence Dogood99: Good point....and that's why I posted...I was asking a question, not looking to attack anyone.


    Brewer.
     
  12. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Brew, I honestly do not think anyone, including Cliff, took your post as an attack.
     
  13. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    This response looks a little defensive to me, especially the part that I put in bold. Although it probably reflects his frustration with the Wash Post more than with Brewer.
    T8, the way that you rushed to Cliff's defense was very gallant.:pofl:
     
  14. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    don't stop posting Brewer! we need new blood in here and new perspectives. it's obvious that you were questioning the PREZ of the BHOA speaking out in this way, not Cliff, as a man. Cliff takes a lot of crap in here Brewer, being new you have no idea how much time he spends defending himself, so don't take his response personally. i thought it came off a bit defensive but if you weren't new, you'd know that's just how he posts! ;)

    i think that impartial about neighborhood issues is the OPPOSITE of what an HOA rep should be- they should make it quite clear how they feel about what happens in our neighborhood- that way residents can know the candidate when casting a vote inthe next election!

    while i don't alway agree with Cliff (one day I will get him to hookah with me- he knows what i mean!) i LOVE that i always know exactly where he's coming from. he's not a politician- he's a resident who truly cares about what the Broadlands is and becomes. he LIVES here- he's not an absentee pres who has an agenda beyond the B-lands being the kind of place HE wants to live.

    His ideals and opinions will either get him re-elected or voted down based on whether or not enough of us agree with him. so residents should sit up and take notice- JUST like you did Brewer, and decide if he's who we want as our president.

    unless he's discussing the results of an issue voted on by the neighborhood, he must always speak for JUST himself- NOT for the community itself, and if the post made that ambiguous so it could appear that our neighborhood feels one way or the other, then THEY should be held accountable for that.

    you know, if meetings got the attendance the FORUM does- they'd need a bigger space to hold meetings... lol
     
  15. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    Brewer-
    No problem at all! I had no problem with your question and expected it to be raised.
    I just wanted it made very clear that I, as an individual, have the right to speak my mind and will do so whenever I see fit. No attempt to appear "defensive" was intended. I have been asked by other folks (not surprisingly they oppose the hospital) that I should not speak my own personal opinion about it because of my position. Sorry, but I take my rights seriously and will not give them up willingly.
    Although I would have preferred the disclaimer be left in, I'm assuming that since there was no reference to the HOA and no attempt to imply that I was speaking for someone else, the Post chose to leave it out. They may have thought by mentioning it, it could have the opposite affect. For example, I would guess 98% of the readers of my letter have no idea who I am. By pointing out that I'm President of the HOA, it could lead people to think "If it's good enough for him, then it must be alright."
    Just a thought.

    P.S. Let me know when you want to get a beer again. I also take my love of beer seriously!

     
  16. T8erman

    T8erman Well-Known Member

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    Cliff is Michigan, I am Ohio State...

    Nuff said! :D
     
  17. gunzour

    gunzour "Living on the Edge"

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    Choose which you would prefer:

    - An HOA board member who communicates regularly with residents and is willing to voice his opinion, even outside the community, so that we all know where he stands

    or

    - An HOA board member who never communicates publicly with residents, hides his opinion, and is not willing to answer questions in a public forum

    Frankly I am glad to know exactly where our HOA president stands on an issue that clearly affects this community. Whether or not you agree with him, at least you know his position.
     
  18. Mr Rogers

    Mr Rogers Active Member

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    :boxing:Hit him with a hard tackle that knocks him into the ground with enough force to break his nose:fight:, but then help him up? Is that it?:ko:
     
  19. neilz

    neilz New Member

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    As an aside, Cliff has always been vocal in his support of HCA's bid for a hospital, just as Donna has always been vocal in her opposition.

    And they both care deeply about what happens in the Broadlands.
     
  20. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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    I think they they are entitled to their opinions. I think most people get involved in HOAs, just as it is in politics, because they have opinions and want to see things done in a particular way.

    Also, I generally don't agree on much with vacliff, but I do think that he has done a lot of hard work for the community.

    I read it that way, too. When talking to the press, you need to understand that you will probably be misquoted and hyper-correct to make sure that it does not happen.
     

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