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April 2012 ELECTION EDITION Town Center Village Election: April 21, 2012 Town Center has three candidates for two seats on the Vil- A 10% QUORUM OF lage Board of Directors. The candidates are, in alphabetical order, Mohan Ray, Helen Ruther, and Linda Wengel. The TOWN CENTER HOUSE- COLUMBIA term of office is May 1, 2012-April 30, 2014. Candidates’ HOLDS IS REQUIRED TOWN statements are on the second and third pages of this FOR A VALID ELECTION! CENTER newsletter. SUPPORT YOUR There is one candidate for Columbia Council Representa- tive, Suzanne Waller. In the 1980 election the Town Center COMMUNITY residents passed a referendum that when an election is un- BY VOTING! C contested for Columbia Council Representative, the nomi- A second Center Fold will be nee is deemed elected and the Board of Directors shall ap- mailed to each household in point the nominee to the position of Representative to the April with an absentee ballot Columbia Council (By-Laws section 4.04). Therefore, Suz- and postage-paid return enve- E anne Waller has been re-elected to serve a two-year lope in it. term, from May 1, 2012-April 30, 2014. And the Oscars go to… Patti Laidig, Pat Loeber, Nadia Herron and their N supporting cast of part-timers by Linda Wengel (This is the opinion of the writer and not of the Town Center Board.) If you don’t recognize these names, please know that they are the stars that keep the Town T Center Community Association running in an exemplary fashion. They serve as liaisons to the community, including the Columbia Association, the Howard County government and all its de- partments, answer questions and address concerns of Town Center residents. They are won- derful custodians of our beautiful historic Oakland Manor, which is shared with the community for beautiful family celebrations, business and organization meetings. E Meet Patti Laidig, Village Manager Patti, who manages all aspects of Town Center’s activities, was born in Cranford, New Jersey and has lived in Columbia with her husband and two now grown children since 1979. Her edu- R cational background is in political science and government. She is a graduate of the prestigious Leadership Howard County program and plays a leadership role in League of Women Voters of Howard County. While her son and daughter were in school, Patti was president of the Atholton High School Booster Association. Meet Pat Loeber, Assistant Village Manager, Covenant Advisor, Program/Event Coordinator (Wow, three jobs all performed superbly.) F Pat hails from Lorain, Ohio and has lived in Columbia for 27 years, with her husband and son, who is now a Howard County General Hospital nurse. Her varied education includes degrees in history and French and a J.D. from George Washington University School of Law. Pat, who is an avid fan of PBS’ Downton Abbey (aren’t we all) and Masterpiece Mystery, loves singing alto in her church choir. O Meet Nadia Herron, Facility Coordinator Nadia is the newest addition to the Town Center staff. She is a real live native of Columbia, and attended Oakland Mills High School. She is currently studying management at University of L Maryland University College. She and her husband and two young daughters live in Baltimore County, but in their spare time, they enjoy partaking of the many amenities Columbia has to of- fer. Patti, Pat and Nadia all share a vision for Town Center that includes a mix of residences, busi- D nesses, restaurants and entertainment that will attract young people and provide us all with a vital and active village life. CANDIDATES’ STATEMENTS joyed interacting with the village residents and help- ing to answer their questions and resolve the prob- VILLAGE BOARD: (There are three candidates for lems they brought to the village office. two open seats.) I was the first Council Representative/ CA Board MOHAN RAY: member from Town Center when we moved here in 1974. I very much enjoyed my time on the Council Reason for Wanting to Serve on the Village particularly working with Jim Rouse who was then Board: Chairman of the CA Board. The timing is just right for me. This is very important time in the history of Columbia in moving forward into I was appointed to the Village Board in 2010 and the future. I want to work hard as a board member have enjoyed the collegial atmosphere in which the for the people of the town center and make a differ- board works. My special interest in joining the board ence. then was to help to review the development of Town Center which was beginning. The board has worked Pertinent Interests/Experience: diligently in reviewing the various documents which I will be able to provide extra support with the archi- guide the downtown plan and writing and giving testi- tectural guidelines because of my 35 years of engi- mony to the appropriate entity. Now that the first neering and project management experience. Also, I neighborhood, Warfield, is about to be started, I’d work extremely well in team work to resolve issues. like to continue that work. I feel my 15 years on the Candidate’s Statement: Howard County Planning Board serving alternately I would like to become a Columbia Town Center Vil- as chairman and vice-chairman give me a unique lage Board Member, first and foremost, because I perspective with which to do that. have the desire to help build a better future for the Town Center. As a long time resident of Columbia, I LINDA WENGEL: feel the need now, to volunteer my time and energy Reason for Wanting to Serve on the Village to work with other Board members and the council in Board: making the right decisions to improve the quality of It is a wonderful way to be involved in this special life for all. The thirty year master plan that was ap- place-Columbia, Maryland. proved by the Howard County Council is going to be implemented in three phases. At this very important Pertinent Interests/Experience: moment in the history of the place I live in and love, I Politics/6 years experience on TC Village Board. Ac- want to be part of it. My 35 years of work experience tive member League of Women Voters. Osher at as a registered professional engineer and 15 years Johns Hopkins University Advisory Board. of volunteering with the Leukemia Lymphoma Soci- Candidate’s Statement: ety, give me the confidence that I can make a differ- I am seeking another term on the Town Center ence for the Town Center. Board of Directors, so that I may continue the work I HELEN RUTHER: have been engaged in for the past several years dealing with Downtown development. As we ap- Reason for Wanting to Serve on the Village proach the advent of the actual “first shovel in the Board: ground” in the coming months in our own backyard, I As a pioneer resident of Town Center I’ve always believe my experience in studying and making sense been interested in serving the community. I’m par- of the Downtown legislation, Design Guidelines, Final ticularly interested in the development of Downtown. Development Plans and more, will serve Town Cen- ter residents well as the Board monitors develop- Pertinent Interests/Experience: ment. 18 year as a covenant advisor & administrative as- sistant to Town Center. 15 years on the Howard My principal concern revolves around assuring that County Planning Board. the promises of walkability and pedestrian accessibil- Candidate’s Statement: ity in Downtown become a reality. Traffic control As a pioneer resident of Columbia and Town Center I around the Mall is also a major issue for residents have always been interested in the governance of who live around the Mall as well as the thousand of the community and in enhancing a sense of commu- weekly mall visitors. nity here. I think I did that during the 18 years I I would appreciate your vote, once again, so that I worked in the village office as a covenant advisor may continue to represent your interests. and all round assistant to the village manager. I en- COLUMBIA COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE: (There is one candidate for one open seat.) Due to a ref- APRIL 21, 2012 SATURDAY erendum passed in 1980, Suzanne Waller is deemed elected because her candidacy was un- POLL HOURS & LOCATIONS: contested. VANTAGE POINT ROAD PARK GAZEBO: SUZANNE WALLER: 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Reason for Wanting to Serve on the Columbia Vantage Point Road is off Little Patuxent Park- Council from Town Center: way. Look for directional signs. Voting will James Rouse, in building the new town of Columbia, take place in Historic Oakland’s Town Center wanted to “improve the quality of life for people living Room in the event of inclement weather. or working in Columbia.” This ideal offers me the op- portunity, as a resident of Town Center, Columbia, to Note: There is only one polling site this year! continue to work to improve the quality of life for peo- ple living/working in Columbia. I am committed to im- WHO MAY VOTE: proving public Safety, a pristine and healthy environ- Tenants of each unit are collectively ment, improving resident interaction, and mainte- entitled to one vote. nance and growth of the Columbia Association’s and Owners of each unit are collectively en- Town Center’s Village board’s services to residents titled to one vote. with attention to Columbia’s new Downtown. All voters must show proof of owner- ship or residency. Pertinent Interests/Experience: Since arriving in Columbia I have felt a commitment to participate in building “a better City”.