Fort Myers, FL
On Thursday the community of Stoneybrook will fill several open seats on its H.O.A. board. And this past weekend the mud for them, and the fun for me, started to fly. Stoneybrook residents received a negative campaign mailer attacking current board member Sherry Bucar and board candidate Warren Davies.
The mailer was something right out of a Lee Atwater national presidential campaign, urging people to go out and vote BUT emphasizing who they should NOT vote for. In case you missed the letter, I'm more than happy to highlight a few of the most potent zingers. I've added my own commentary because, well, that's what I do....
"If you do not want your quarterly assessments to go up"....do not vote for Warren Davies or Sherry Bucar. Oh, that hurts, right in the pocketbook. Nobody wants new taxes.
"Warren Davies was board president in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 assessments increased another 25%".
Ooooooh. I guess Warren will not use the phrase "my record speaks for myself" after that one.
"In 2009 Warren Davies was off the board because he got mad and resigned".
Did he say I'm taking my gavel and going home? That would be some great tape.
The powerful and accurate letter is unsigned and doesn't state support for any candidate running for the Stoneybrook board. It's probably from another candidate. I mean who else is going to waste that kind of money and time on an H.O.A. election. I have to be honest, I couldn't have pointed out the situation any better myself. I guess that also means I like wasting my time on H.O.A. elections.
Stoneybrook is a very interesting election, due to the controversy involving Bucar. She's been attempting to recoup her personal legal expenses through trickery involving the Stoneybrook management company. Bucar, as this document states is claiming "gross negligence" on the part of Alliant, Stoneybrooks management company. As Bucar goes after the management company she's also trying to build allies on the board who may also believe she should also be reimbursed for her personal attack against Waste Management. Enter Warren Davies.
Davies is the former president of the board in Stoneybrook. He quit the board when it was decided to hire Alliant as the new management company in Stoneybrook. Now don't get me wrong, I am no fan of management companies. I believe they are a complete waste of money, hired to write letters, check your roof and snoop around your backyard looking for a hot tub. However, could this be Davies' revenge. Get elected, join forces with Bucar and Joe Mikulka and figure out a way to fire Alliant and reimburse Bucar for her Waste Management troubles.
Stoneybrook is Gateway's own little reality show. I mean until the Bob Nielson show returns this Thursday night at 5:30. There are 7 people running for 3 open seats for the Stoneybrook H.O.A. One of those seats being contested is Bucar's. There is a meet the candidates night Monday night at 7 in the clubhouse. It's only appropriate that the Stoneybrook election is held Thursday, April Fools Day.
