The Observer Newspapers | Three Candidates Take Part in RCC Preference Poll

Sept. 25, 2009

Three Candidates Take Part in RCC Preference Poll

The Reston Community Center board of governors announced three candidates for the 2009 Preference Poll last week.

The candidates are all incumbents to the board and include Bill Bouie, Carol Ann Bradley and Colin Mills. This year's preference poll began on Sept. 24 and will continue through Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. Those elected will each serve a three-year term.

The RCC Preference Poll is a community event held annually to choose members to serve on the RCC board of governors. Nine members serve on the board each year and are responsible for establishing the overall policy of the community center and overseeing its operations. Board members also represent RCC throughout the district at a variety of events and collaborate with a number of other community organizations.

Bouie's previous experience includes a position on the board since 2003 and serving as chairman of the board from 2006 through 2008. He is the current chairman of the Fairfax County Park Authority board, a member of the Wolf Trap Associates board, and a founding member and vice chairman of the Initiative for Public Art - Reston.

Bouie has received the Lord Fairfax award and has twice received the Best of Reston award, and has worked with the YMCA, Reston Youth Baseball and Reston Little League. He said his leadership would enhance RCC's community vision by using his talents and skills to help decide the center's next course.

Bradley has served on the board for the past three years and has been chairman of the board since 2008. She has been involved with Global Camps Africa, Reston Interfaith, Friends of Reston Library, the American Association of University Women and the Greater Reston Community Center, among others. She is also a former principal of Terraset Elementary School.

Bradley said she will continue to collaborate with individuals throughout the community as well as other local organizations. She said as the 2009 survey results are reviewed and shared with the community the board can knowledgably plan ahead to serve the small district 5 constituents, especially as the community grows with the addition of Metrorail.

Mills is a lifelong resident of Reston and has served on the RCC board of governors since 2006. He has also served on the Reston Citizens Association board of directors since 2005 and has been the group's vice president since 2008. He was RCA's representative to the Reston Metrorail Access Group and has helped host several community forums.

Mills said Reston will see change with the coming of Metrorail and an expanding community. He said RCC must be prepared to meet the challenge by offering services to an expanded base of residents and patrons while keeping its Reston values and traditions in mind.

The Fairfax County board of supervisors established the RCC board of governors to represent the interests of the residents of small tax district No. 5 on issues affecting the community center. The county's board of supervisors makes board appointments by the request of Hunter Mill district Supervisor Cathy Hudgins after small tax district 5 residents make their preferences known.

Online and mail-in balloting have been made available for the first time this year in addition to walk-in voting at RCC's Hunters Woods and Lake Anne facilities. In June RCC's Memorandum of Understanding was changed to allow for one ballot to be given to each residential or commercial address.

Residents may vote for up to three candidates on the ballot and district 5 constituents should have received their ballots in the mail this week. The information mailed out also includes a user identification and personal identification number for online voting. Walk-in ballots must be received before 5 p.m. on Oct. 14 and mail-in ballots must be received by the counting agent before the same deadline.