| Forum
Focuses on RA Elections |
By Leslie Perales
Observer Staff Writer |
| Candidates for two open seats on the Reston Association
Board of Directors answered questions about the community's
recreational facilities, government transparency and the proposal
to incorporate Reston as a town during an election forum Monday
night. The Alliance of Reston Clusters and Homeowners sponsored
the forum for members and Reston residents. |
| All four candidates attended the forum. John Bowman and
Cheryl Beamer are running for Hunters Woods/Dogwood district
and Barbara Zicari and Richard Chew are running for at-large
director. |
| Each candidate had a different idea about what changes could
be made to Reston's recreational facilities. Bowman said he
thought there should be a wider choice of activities to meet
the needs of the aging and younger population. In addition,
he suggested a partnership with the Reston YMCA and the Reston
Community Center. "The fact of the matter is we have two indoor
recreational facilities," he said. "The Reston Community Center
and the YMCA." |
| Beamer said the community could use an indoor tennis facility,
as well as a Park Ranger program for Reston's pathways. She
said a Park Ranger program would help protect against illegal
dumping and gang activity. |
| Zicari said one of the reasons she moved from Herndon to
Reston a year ago was because of the number of activities
available to her children. However, she said the community
lacks indoor basketball and tennis courts. |
| Chew said maintaining Reston's current recreation facilities
and protecting the community's open spaces is most important
to him. He also said he would like to see more options for
the community's aging and physically disabled population.
|
| Three of the candidates, Bowman, Beamer and Zicari, said
they would choose to fund any changes and upgrades through
assessments. |
| The candidates also responded to concerns that the board
has been holding many executive sessions, or meetings closed
to the public. Zicari said certain things require an executive
session and she does not think the board is being dishonest
in their reason for holding these sessions. "I think they
are professional, dedicated volunteers," she said. "I'm sure
there are things that are confidential." |
| Chew said the trend of executive sessions sends the wrong
message to members and reasons for closed meetings should
be considered further. Bowman said the board needs to provide
more specific reasons for holding executive sessions and should
include more information in the minutes. |
| Beamer said the board "shoots itself in the foot" by holding
too many executive sessions and appears to be hiding things
they really are not. She said increased transparency is needed.
|
| When asked about town status and governance in Reston, Chew
said if Reston became an incorporated town, he would want
RA to continue operations. "RA is and should remain a key
player is Reston issues and governance," he said. |
| Zicari said she would support Reston becoming a town, but
there are many hurdles to get over first. Bowman said he thinks
the governing entities in Reston should come together and
referred to Reston's current status as "governance a la carte."
He said he would like RA to focus on how to make the transition
into a town a smooth one. |
| The only person who did not advocate Reston becoming a town
was Beamer. She said it would take too much time and energy,
which could be better spent on improving the current planning
and zoning committee. "Becoming a town is a solution that
I feel will come too late to deal with the challenges we have,"
she said. "I believe we need to work with what we have." |
| In addition, the candidates answered questions about increases
in assessments, improving communications for Reston Association
and its members and ways to keep Reston aesthetically pleasing.
Ballots for the election were scheduled to be mailed Friday
and must be returned by April 4. The results of the election
will be announced April 15. Elected candidates will serve
a three-year term. |
