After a contentious meeting last week, the Trapper Creek Community Council will hold a new election for its board of directors. While the original election was conducted incorrectly, the results of the new election are likely to be identical. KTNA’s Phillip Manning has more.
Last Thursday, the Trapper Creek Community Council board of directors meeting focused heavily on questions regarding the most recent board election. At the meeting, Trapper Creek resident Kristie Parsons questioned whether the election followed the rules set out in the council’s governing document.
“The question is to review the process used for this particular election and how it followed the Trapper Creek council’s constitution and bylaws, which specifically define the process. And that process is not identified in any of the previous minutes.”
Kristie Parsons and Trapper Creek Community Council Chair Paula Glenka are also involved in an ongoing dispute over Parson’s attempt to open a gravel pit. Parsons has accused Glenka of misusing her position on the board in that dispute, and last week’s meeting included more than one heated exchange between the two.
Specifically, Parsons questioned the lack of an election committee, which is required by the Trapper Creek Constitution. Chairperson Glenka says a committee was not formed due to lack of participation.
“We did not select a committee because we had nobody to select from. [The constitution] clearly says, ‘An election committee appointed by the chairperson of the board will collect, then count and certify the results of the election.’ That did not happen because we had no committee to elect.”
Kristie Parsons also questioned the fact that Paula Glenka was in sole possession of the locked ballot box after the polls closed. Glenka and others at the meeting say that she did not have a key to open the box, and no impropriety occurred.
Additionally, the ballot for the board of directors election was unusual in that it had a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ blank next to each candidate’s name. Two candidates, Paula Glenka and Ralph Kolbeck, received at least as many ‘no’ votes as ‘yes’ votes. Glenka says that the ‘no’ votes were used to determine the candidates who received the most votes, who will receive two-year terms on the council. The ‘no’ votes were otherwise not counted for who was seated on the board. Kristie Parsons says a ‘no’ vote for a candidate should be taken more seriously.
“A blank would not allow people to say no. This gave people the voice of ‘no.’”
Paula Glenka opposed the idea of a re-vote, noting that four candidates had run for five open seats, so everyone was guaranteed a spot.
“We have four people that were on the ballot, and the four of us will run again. It doesn’t matter. I will vote for myself, and I’ll be in there. There will be no ‘no’ on it, and I’ll be in there. Each of us, if we vote for ourselves, will be on this board. It’s moot point.”
Board member Levi Miller agrees that the result of a new election would likely be the same, but notes that the ballot allowing ‘no’ votes was not the normal process for board elections.
“We did allow people a ‘no’ vote, and, if they’re contesting that the original vote was tainted to begin with because of the committee and everything, I move we have another vote.”
The board approved Miller’s motion, and new election begins on Thursday. Trapper Creek Residents will be able to vote at the library until February 13th.
