Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

As noted on the homepage, Lynden Vazquez is withdrawing his name from the ballot as Activities Director. This means next year's winner will be decided by write-in votes.

I'm here campaigning for Lynn McLaughlin. She has agreed to serve again in 2013, and as everyone knows, she's done a fantastic job in this role for years and years. All we need now is a rallying cry.

We know Lynn's proclivities!
She loves festivities!
Vote Lynn for Activities!

Write in Lynn to win!

I'm sure OP or someone will have more creative ideas.

Ken,

So let me get this straight - Lynden's last minute change of heart means I wasted my vote?

Is it possible for Lynden to simply "designate" the votes he receives to another candidate?

You didn't necessarily waste your vote. If you can convince Lynden to un-withdraw, then your vote will matter again! I tried to convince him myself, but without success.

Perhaps off topic, it's difficult to know how to handle an election where a candidate withdraws (or dies, or becomes incapacitated, or whatever) after the ballots are printed and before the election is complete. As with many small organizations, the SHGA bylaws don't specify how to handle this case, and bigger organizations than our own little club have puzzled over it. The ACE Project provides guidance to foreign governments on electoral processes, and they briefly discuss the case at http://aceproject.org/ace-en/topics/pc/pcc/pcc10/, but don't provide constructive guidance. There are a lot of options, such as disallowing a candidate to withdraw after ballots are printed and before the election is complete, or replacing the candidate with an "equivalent" candidate from the same political party, or re-running the election from scratch, or voiding votes cast for that individual. This last option seemed the best choice for SHGA. If you've got better suggestions, I'm interested, but I won't guarantee that the board will follow them! It would also help if you compare the strengths and weaknesses of your suggestion to the California Elections Code, recent legal disputes in Texas, the case of Jenny Oropreza who was elected to the California state senate after her death in 2010, and Mel Carnahan's election to the US senate after his death in 2000 and whose widow was appointed in his place.

Ask an Engineer what time it is and they will tell you how to build a watch or how one operates.

Ken always provides an in-depth explanation and alternatives.

I'm sure the Board will make the right decision - its not like there is a lot of interest in assuming/running for the position.

[/quote] after Mel Carnahan's election to the US senate after his death in 2000 and whose widow was appointed in his place. [/quote]

If Lynden suffered a sudden and untimely demise, who would take his place? Catlyn? hmmmm. food for thought.[/quote]

Ken Andrews wrote:....I'm sure OP or someone will have more creative ideas.

So, you're really suggestion we vote for OP for activities director? I guess this means we'll be doing a live version of 'Hitler in the Bunker' for our holiday party except the title will read more along the lines of 'Barton's Last Days Under the Gazebo' and will be subtitled into Klingon.

No, I meant that OP would probably have more creative ideas than me for a rallying cry for Lynn's campaign. It seemed like just his sort of thing. Sorry I wasn't clear. Then again, if Orian wanted to launch his own write-in campaign, I wouldn't stand in his way...

Ken's statement was clear to me. My balot was already mailed so I can't change it. My statement was less clear. I did not mean let Lynden win and then knock him off so we could get Catlyn. I like Catlyn. I would stand inbetween her and certain death. However, I back Lynn for Activities Director.

I think I've been on the Board for 10 years running. I've lost count... Larry had just completed his role as President when I started. Anyway, I'm happy to fill the Activities Director position for another year and welcome any/all members support.

See you at the Holiday Party on Dec. 15th (if not sooner)!

Thanks,

Lynn

I'm too busy these days for a club position. School and work are going to be bad this year, I get the feeling. Next year hopefully. I do have lots of ideas for activities.

may i state here that lynn has my vote? don't know what my ballot says. i think i voted for Rob, for everything...