In the United States, do we allow incumbents to control the timing of elections or the qualifications of candidates who are running against them? And, in this country we do not give incumbents the right to declare elections invalid at their sole discretion. These are the classic hallmarks of totalitarian regimes. This is what we just saw happening in Egypt during those last few days. We must never let such abuses to creep in here.

As an elected body, the Wilmont Board has only those specific powers vested in it by the Bylaws. Anything not specified in the Bylaws must be voted on by the Wilmont Members.

The Wilmont Bylaws are very clear in how elections are to be run. Any alteration would require a change of the Bylaws, which would have to be put up for vote before the Wilmont Members. In other words, the current Board’s chairperson, Valerie Griffin, never had a right to cancel the Annual Meeting, or the elections.

The alleged absence of membership records does not give the Board powers to cancel an election. In fact, the Bylaws make no mention of any circumstances in which the Annual Elections can be canceled. Therefore, this decision could only be made by a vote of the Wilmont Members.

The incumbent Wilmont Board has no right to influence or delay the outcome of the ballot count, nor do the new candidates claim that right.

I have suggested that an independent body be assembled with the sole purpose of counting the ballot, in a reasonable fashion, at the earliest possible time. Interested parties should be allowed to be present to assure transparency, but they must not influence or disturb the count in any way.

After the ballot is counted and the results are known, every Wilmont Member who feels that the election was unfair has the right to make this known at the next duly assembled meeting. If there are enough Wilmont Members who feel the election was indeed unfair, they have every right to introduce a motion containing remedies. It is, however, not up the current Board to declare the election invalid, or to determine whether an annual meeting took place or not. The right to make these decisions rests entirely in the hands of the Wilmont Members.

Reinhard Kargl
Wilmont member