2026/2027 Board of Directors Candidates

These members have announced their candidacy for the 2026-2027 LOWA Board. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Board members usually serve a three-year term and are expected to attend meetings and actively participate in community initiatives. Any LOWA property owner of record in good standing is eligible to apply.

Key Dates & Information:

• Vacancies: There are three vacancies to be filled for 2026/2027 
• Two-Three year terms and One-One year term will be filled. 
• Election Date: Held during the Annual Membership Meeting in September. Monday, September 7 at 10AM at the Community Center. 
• Elections will open July 24, 2026. An email will be sent to all members with online voting details. 

LOWA Board Candidate Forum: Wednesday, July 15, 2 PM-4 PM, Community Center. In person event. Recorded and aired on Youtube.Click HERE to view.

LOWA Board Candidate Town Hall: Sunday, August 9, 1 PM-4 PM, Community Center. In person, available on Zoom, and LIVE streamed on YouTube. Recorded and aired on Youtube. 
For Full Details on how the Town Hall will be conducted click HERE

Zoom Details:
When: Aug 9, 2026 01:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Candidate Townhall
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88478898897   
Phone one-tap:
+13126266799,,88478898897# US
+16465588656,,88478898897# US 
Webinar ID: 884 7889 8897

 

---

MICHAEL AMATO

LOW Residence: Section 11 

Education, Training, Relevant Experience

• I graduated from Gonzaga High School in Washington, DC, in 1980. I then earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Ohio University in 1984 and have worked in the Intelligence community for over 40 years. I started my professional career as an electrical engineer designing circuit cards and progressed to engineering management.
• I continue to build my knowledge by attending seminars, providing training sessions, and participating and achieving certifications in professional engineering organizations.

Community Service
I have served for over 10 years on the Board of Directors for a marina condominium association on the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Maryland.

LOWA Committees
I have not served on any LOW committees but look forward to participating in the near future.

Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
I am eager to serve on the Board of Directors, where I can apply my strong problem-solving skills and experience to help ensure LOW remains one of the most desirable and well-managed communities in the state.
I believe the most important factor to ensure stability and continued success of our community is long-range planning. We should be looking 1, 5, even 10 years into the future in order to strengthen our position ourselves for success.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
I believe if that question is posed to our members, the overwhelming majority of responses would be related to the recent increases in the annual dues. It is a fact that all prices increase over time. However, we need to have good talking points to help explain the increases, as well as solid plans to ensure financial stability in the future. We need to ensure that our members continue to have confidence in our Board.

What Are Some Current Issues Outside of LOW That May Impact Our Community and Your Thoughts on Them?
The proposed traffic pattern for the intersection leaving the Lake at Rt. 3 is preposterous. Forcing us to turn right and make a U-turn to get back to the Food Lion seems like a bad idea. We should look at adding more barcode-only entrances and exits (they don't always have to be installed in pairs), possibly near the fire station or at the currently chained emergency exit near the spillway.

Short- and Long-Term Goals for Our Community

Short-Term
Barcode Administration
The people who administer the barcode system do a fantastic job. I believe the process could use some review and possible improvement.

Long-Term
Amenity Review
Do the current amenities align with the desires and needs of our community? Maybe we need more, maybe less. Suggest we perform a study to collect utilization, cost, etc., in order to gain a better understanding.

LOW Website
The website is the lifeline to the community. While I have noticed recent improvements, it should be continuously monitored to ensure members can perform needed actions to minimize trips to the Holcomb building and phone calls to the administration.

 

---

 

DAVID "DAVE" DAVIES

LOW Residence: Section 13

Education, Training, Relevant Experience

• I served for 42 years in private school administration and teaching. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Education from Wilkes University and a Master of Science from the University of Pennsylvania in Organizational Leadership, Curriculum, and Supervision.
• I currently serve as a national consultant on non-profit board governance, helping organizations to do strategic planning and to govern effectively. I have both served on boards and reported to boards.

LOWA Committees
Lakes Committee (3 years, Chair 2 years), External Affairs Committee (3 years, Chair 2 years), Liaison to Maintenance and Ecology Committee.

Community Service (Clubs and Organizations)
Board of Directors of LOWLINC (5 years, Chair 2 years) and LOWLINC volunteer; Trustee of the Herndon Trust (St. George's Episcopal Church); Board of Members, Rapidan Service Authority (1 year).

Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
My wife and I could have retired anywhere in the United States, but we chose Lake of the Woods. I am committed to helping LOWA be the best that it can be. I believe that my professional experience with boardsmanship, the friendships and connections I have made in eight years at LOW, and my willingness to tackle difficult problems would enable me to be an effective Board member. I believe that my commitment to multiple committees and organizations demonstrates my willingness to invest in the community. In preparation to run for the Board, I have attended meetings of many of our committees, and this has given me insight and ideas about how we can make our community better.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
We currently have a dysfunctional Board. Some Board members are not willing or able to civilly discuss topics with each other. The Board has to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable.

Board leadership has indicated that they do not wish to look backward. A famous quote says that "those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it." In the last several years, nearly every capital project that LOWA has undertaken has run over time and over budget and has produced unsatisfactory results. An unwillingness to learn from past mistakes all but ensures that we will make those mistakes again.

Recent Boards have also not been truthful with the membership. Attempting to scale back the size or number of committees while claiming that the goal is to increase member engagement is just one example. Reporting that the Patrick Henry Court was 90% complete for over a year and 98% complete for nine months is just wrong. As of the beginning of June, the project isn't even complete enough to generate a punch list. If elected, you could absolutely count on honesty and candor from me.

Staff turnover has also been a persistent and costly issue. Frequent leadership changes—particularly in key roles—have disrupted continuity and eroded institutional knowledge. Despite my prior calls for objective exit data, decisions were too often based on speculation rather than evidence. We must adopt more disciplined hiring, evaluation, and retention practices.
Customer service is another area requiring immediate attention. Residents expect and deserve professionalism and consistency across all touchpoints—from dining to member services. Improved training and accountability are essential.

What Are Some Current Issues Outside of LOW That May Impact Our Community and Your Thoughts on Them?
As Chair of LOWA's External Affairs Committee, I have been extensively involved in a number of issues that have already, or will, impact LOW. We successfully urged a previous LOWA Board to object in writing to the Wilderness Crossing project that would bring considerable traffic, extensive water use, and possibly even data centers right across Route 3 from LOW. I have worked with the Orange County Supervisors and RSA regarding additional water sources and responsible water use. The EAC has lobbied the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to restrict the application of biosolids that might contain PFAS (forever chemicals) to local farm fields that could leach into the Rapidan. We have lobbied the Virginia Department of Transportation to reexamine the proposed Route 3/20 intersection restructuring that contains a dangerous U-turn.

What Do You See as the Most Important Short- and Long-Term Goals for Our Community?
Lake of the Woods is no longer the community it was 30 years ago, and our policies must reflect today's realities. Increasingly, we are home to working families and retirees on fixed incomes—not just weekend residents with considerable discretionary income. Our pricing and service models must align with that shift. For example, comparative analysis shows our food and beverage pricing consistently exceeds nearby restaurants by $2–$3 per item. That gap is not justified and must be addressed.

Short-term priorities should include:

• Stabilizing the Repair and Replacement Fund
• Holding RSA accountable for water and wastewater infrastructure improvements
• Ensuring all new contracts are strategically designed, fiscally responsible, and tightly managed

Long-term priorities should include:

• Partnering with Orange County and RSA to develop an additional water source, reducing reliance on a single supply. With more than 8,000 residents, Lake of the Woods represents the majority of RSA's customer base. Our voice must be clear, consistent, and effective—especially in planning for risks such as extended drought.
• Strengthening financial planning to ensure sustainability without overburdening residents.

 

---

 

KATHLEEN FOLEY

LOW Residence: Section 14

Intro/Family

• I have lived in LOW for less than 5 years now and believe I can't complain about the BOD until I try to help fix the issues that are floating around. I am a mother of 2 wonderful sons—Jay just graduated from George Mason with degrees in Poli Sci & Economics, and Ollie is doing an engineering Ph.D. at Virginia Tech.
• I am the President and Founder of Locus Geographics, a DOD subcontractor. We make nautical charts for the US Navy.

Education, Training, Relevant Experience
I am a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Go Badgers! My 40+ years in govt and private industry has taught me how to successfully support hardware/software implementation and the training that goes along with big builds and new ways of doing things. I am effective at implementing Quality Management Systems to evaluate the good and the bad for continuous improvement. I also bring 15+ years of volunteer experience working with large groups of people with varying views to achieve common goals: Vice President, Great Falls Citizens Association; Service Unit Manager/Troop Leader, Girl Scouts Nation's Capital; and Charter Organization Representative, Christ the King Lutheran Church for Boy Scouts National Capital Area Council. I am known to be assiduous when I take on a task.

LOWA Committees
Only been to a few meetings with different committees to see what they were all about but have not really delved or committed to any one committee.
Why Do I Want to Serve on the Board?

As I said in my Intro, I can't complain about anything until I try to help fix it. I believe my professional and volunteer experience is well suited to help bring the LOWA community together to accomplish a shared goal(s).

Most Pressing Issues Facing LOWA
Finances! We need to take a serious look at the financials to ensure members are not forced to move due to errant spending. Transparency is the 2nd issue I believe needs to be addressed. We have several wonderful ways to communicate with members. I just don't understand why we don't use all of them and give true representations of what's going on to the membership.

Current Issues Outside LOW That Are Impacting LOW
E-bikes. The news is filled with sad stories about the awful accidents that are happening to adults and children on E-bikes. With more folks using E-bikes in the future, we need to find a way to ensure everyone follows the "rules of the road." I am interested in hearing from others on how to ensure a win-win for all involved.

Most Important Short-Term Goal
Getting a handle on the finances.

Most Important Long-Term Goal
Ensuring the viability of our lakes and natural areas.



 

---

 

JOSEPH "JOE" GAITA

LOW Residence: Section 7

Education, Training, Relevant Experience

• High School Graduate - 1976
• VA Class A General Contractor with 45 years' experience in residential building and remodeling.

LOWA Committees
None.

Community Service and Organizations
Mission trips to India, Mexico, and Crow Indian Reservation in MT. with church and mission organizations.

Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
Hopefully to help instill a better culture on the Board to serve this community with more transparency and better fiscal responsibility.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
A. The health of the LAKE and holding RSA accountable for continuing to pollute the water.
B. Rein in the continued 10%–15% increases in HOA dues each year. Most people understand modest increases; however, we do not want to force long-time residents on limited incomes out of the community they call home.

What Are Some Current Issues Outside of LOW That May Impact Our Community and Your Thoughts on Them?
A. Property development issues, including the Data Center, which could overburden the water supply and cause major traffic congestion.

What Do You See as the Most Important Short-Term and Long-Term Goals for Our Community?
A. Short-term: Complete all current projects before considering any new major project.
B. Long-term: Develop a larger database of reputable contractors to help control cost, focusing on amenities getting closer to a financial break-even point.



 

---

 

FRANK HEISLER

LOW Resident

My wife, Lynn, and I purchased our Lake of the Woods home in 2020, initially expecting it to serve as a weekend retreat while maintaining our residence in Reston. Within two months, we knew Lake of the Woods was where we wanted to live full time. Our daughters, Ashley and Emily, and our three grandchildren visit often, making this community an important gathering place for our family.
 
Education, Training, Relevant Experience
As a Lake of the Woods resident, retired senior executive, community volunteer, and current LOWA Board member, I am committed to thoughtful leadership, responsible financial oversight, and preserving the long-term health of the community my family and I call home.
My bachelor's degree in business is from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where I graduated with honors while working two jobs, getting married, and raising my first child. My career began in information technology before advancing into senior executive management, specializing in improving underperforming contracts, strengthening operational controls, and leading large-scale projects and engagements.
During my time at Perot Systems and Dell, I worked closely with senior leadership and was responsible for financial performance, personnel management, contract compliance, corrective action planning, and project execution. Over more than 25 years, that experience allowed me to build a record of disciplined financial oversight, contract management, executive leadership, and team development—skills directly relevant to the governance and infrastructure challenges facing Lake of the Woods.

LOWA Committees
Service to LOWA has included serving as a voting member of the Planning Committee, where I gained valuable insight into asset management, reserves, and capital improvement planning. As a Board member, I have also served as Vice President and as liaison to both the Rules Committee and the Safety & Security Committee.
Previous board experience also includes serving on a Massachusetts condominium board as both Secretary and President.

Community Service (Clubs and Organizations)
Community service has always been important to me. I currently work as a substitute teacher in local schools, supporting students from kindergarten through fifth grade, and serve as Vice President of the Lake of the Woods Woodworkers Club. Our club supports the broader community through projects benefiting local organizations and LOWA facilities. In addition, I have volunteered in support of Ladies Golf Association events and served as a poll watcher for local and national elections.
 
Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
My approach to Board service is grounded in fiduciary responsibility, respect for our governing documents, collaboration, and transparent decision-making. I believe the Board must work constructively with the General Manager while maintaining appropriate oversight, clear priorities, and sound business practices.
My guiding principle is straightforward: do what is right for the community, even when it is not the easiest or most popular path.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
Lake of the Woods must remain focused on our community's most important long-term needs. As the community approaches 60 years of age, I support disciplined planning for our roads, culverts, stormwater systems, lakes, facilities, and other core assets. Careful reserve management, improved reporting systems, and stronger practices for planning, executing, and closing out major capital projects are also essential priorities.

What Are Some Current Issues Outside of LOW That May Impact Our Community and Your Thoughts on Them? The most important short-term and long-term goals are closely connected. As Lake of the Woods approaches 60 years of age, I believe we must continue investing in our roads, culverts, stormwater systems, lakes, facilities, and other critical infrastructure. Achieving that requires disciplined reserve management, better reporting systems, and stronger processes for planning, executing, and successfully closing out major capital projects.



 

---

 

DARCY JENNINGS

LOW Resident

Education

• BA in English and History.
• MBA with a focus on Marketing.

Involvement in LOWA
Presently on the LOWA Board. Past President of Lioness Lions. Former committee member of Pools and Community Activities. Member of Lioness, Childhelp, LGA, 2 book clubs, various LOWA groups over the years, AARP, Mahjong, card players, trivia, and watercolor art groups.

Why Am I a Candidate for the Board?
Primarily, I want to be a positive voice for this community by listening to members and addressing their concerns. More open communication. Work harder on finding possible solutions to the issues presented to the LOWA Board. Improving community engagement for all age groups here in LOWA. Keep the cost of our amenities within their individual budgets. Most of all, to try to keep the assessment rate reasonable in the future.

Personal Strengths
Use my ability to talk with people and to truly LISTEN to their thoughts on how to improve our community. Members of LOWA enjoy living here, so helping to maintain and improve where we live is a strong priority.

Facing the Future
LOWA now has a new GM and Financial Officer with extensive experience managing our HOA. Supporting their recommendations while remaining a strong advocate for community members establishes a good working relationship. Not all of us will always agree with the proposals presented by the GM, but adding the voice of the people will allow for compromises that better suit all in LOWA. Other recurring issues we face include recognizing the aging infrastructure, maintaining our roads, and contemplating how best to make our amenities more available to all members. It is also important to ensure our fiduciary responsibilities are always considered in the Board's decisions.

Important Issues Facing LOWA
This year, the Board has focused on the health of the lakes. Many changes have been made to provide us with more precise and up-to-date data; this should continue. Monitoring and reporting the financial stability of our community is also vital. Listening to community members is important. The board members represent the members' views, and those views should be at the forefront in decisions made by the board. Seeking out less vocal members to focus on members' concerns is crucial to keeping LOWA a vibrant community.



 

---

 

FREDERICK "FRED" K. LANGE

LOW Residence: Section 4

Education, Training, Relevant Experience

• MA, Management, Central Michigan University
• BA, Business Administration, Washington State University
• USAF Command Pilot (Retired Colonel, 29 Years Service) - Commanded several military aircraft (bomber, tanker, airlift). Served on Air Staff at Pentagon and commanded a Strategic Airlift Squadron (approximately 125 personnel), managing operational crews and administrative staff.
• Major Airline Captain (30 Years Experience) – Served as Flight Engineer, First Officer and Captain. Holds Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) ratings on several commercial aircraft.
• Core Competencies - Proven ability to master complex information quickly, completes detailed administrative staff work, and strategically prioritizes efforts to achieve organizational goals.

LOWA Committees
Pickleball/Tennis Committee – Secretary and Member – (2021 to present)
Honor Awards Committee – Member – (2026 to present)

Community Service (Clubs and Organizations)

• Pickleball Club - President (2020 to 2025) -- Membership increased 50% to over 300 amenity paying club members
• Veterans Club - Member (2019 to present)
• LOWLINC - Handyman (2020 to present)
• Woodworkers Club - Member (2026 to present)
• Community Volunteerism - Assisted other community members and friends with handyman skills (pro bono), including two kitchen renovations, boat/jet ski lift repair, and residential plumbing and electrical repair.

Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
I want to serve on the Board to foster a culture of professional collaboration, structured teamwork, and robust fiscal responsibility. Having attended numerous committee meetings, I appreciate their strong supporting leadership, dedication and initiative. To capitalize on this resource, the Board must maintain a focused strategic oversight role while providing our new GM the operational space to optimize staff personnel and internal processes.

Financially, we must proactively manage our revenue streams as support from New Construction and Renovation Fees (NCR) diminishes. I support the initiative to institute a Common Area Fee (new home purchases) as other targeted cost saving measures are aggressively pursued. This standard HOA financial strategy will diversify our revenue, offset declining NCR fees, and mitigate the pressure for significant assessment hikes. Passage of the referendum to institute a Capitalization Fee a couple years ago would have significantly reduced assessments required to meet LOW's financial needs -- it is incumbent on members to step up and participate when the BOD sees fit to proffer a referendum. I am eager to bring my professional background in collaborative leadership to advance this progress.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
The most pressing challenge facing LOWA is balancing our community's long-term financial health with the diverse infrastructure needs of our more than 4,200 homes and 8,400 residents. Our near-term challenges are solvable with strategic resource allocation. A critical foundation going forward is reinforcing the Board's fundamental role to govern rather than manage. It must foster a leadership culture of trust, candor and collective responsibility. It is the GM's role to manage LOW operations and I am confident improvements instituted over the past few months will bear fruit for our community and become more widely appreciated over time.
To protect property values and quality of life, we must prioritize our shared environmental assets. Every resident benefits economically and recreationally from preserving the water quality in our lakes. To fund dredging solutions, clearing the backlog of culvert maintenance and other capital priorities, perennial money losers must receive periodic consideration for restructuring.

What Are Some Current Issues Outside of LOW That May Impact Our Community and Your Thoughts on Them?
Several issues outside the direct control of Lake of the Woods (LOW) have the potential to significantly impact our community and quality of life.
First, the reliability and long-term integrity of water and sewer services remain critical concerns. While these utilities are managed through the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA), they are essential to every resident, and LOW leadership must maintain active engagement and advocacy to ensure dependable service and appropriate infrastructure planning.
Second, the rapid growth of data center development in Orange County presents economic opportunities but our community places greater attention on the potential impacts on rural land preservation, noise levels, visual character, utility demands, and overall quality of life. Community awareness and involvement in local planning discussions are important as these projects move forward.

Another significant concern is the proposed Joshua Falls-to-Yeat transmission line project. This 165-mile regional infrastructure project would introduce large transmission towers and extensive utility corridors across portions of Orange County. Given its potential effects on property owners, natural resources, and the county's rural character, residents should stay informed and actively participate in the public review process to ensure local concerns are heard.

Finally, the proposed Wilderness Crossing development at Routes 3 and 20 continues to move through legal and regulatory channels. As a large-scale mixed-use project, it could have substantial impacts on traffic, public services, environmental resources, and future growth patterns in the region. I commend the many LOW residents who have remained engaged in these discussions and believe continued community involvement will be essential as decisions are made.

As a Board member, I would support ongoing communication with residents about these external issues and advocate for LOW's interests whenever opportunities arise to engage with local and regional decision-makers.

On a positive note, the Lake of the Woods property has met previous challenges since its founding (see Germanna Road: Three Hundred Year History of Lower Orange). This community and its surrounding distractions are a gem. I suggest we all stay engaged and ensure we are not the path of least resistance for the developments mentioned above.

What Do You See as the Most Important Short-Term and Long-Term Goals for Our Community?

Short-term Goal
Community confidence in LOWA's ability to plan and execute large capital projects must be restored. Much effort has been focused on ensuring sufficient planning, transparency, risk mitigation and professional oversight (experienced Project Manager and supporting team) of projects is in place prior to undertaking them. Future RFPs must be properly competed and all activity documented to ensure projects are delivered within budget, on time and backed by a warranty for the work. That said, LOW must be willing to move forward and prove itself to the community.

Long-term Goals
Boards use strategic planning to shift from reactive day to day fixes to proactive governance that secures the neighborhood's future. Long term goals for our association at Lake of the Woods are not much different than those of others, so these are not original thoughts but a common template:

• Preserve Property Values – Enforce architectural standards, ensure consistent curb appeal, and maintain community rules to prevent neighborhood decline.
• Financial Stability - Build and maintain reserve funds through responsible budgeting to cover major future repairs and replacement.
• Capital Improvements and Amenity Maintenance – Updating and modernizing shared spaces (clubhouse, pools, and parks) to meet changing demographic needs.
• Community Engagement - Foster neighborhood unity, increase resident participation in events, and ensure transparent, open communication between the Board and homeowners.

If elected to the LOWA BOD, I commit to work tirelessly with integrity toward community improvement, make informed/rational decisions, place HOA interests above any personal agendas, avoid any conflict of interests, enforce and follow all governing documents fairly and uniformly, share the workload equally, will not compromise confidentiality, will prioritize the BOD as a body over self/individual.

---

 

ALAN MACDOUGALL

LOW Residence: Section 1

Education, Training, Relevant Experience
In January 2026, I retired from the Federal Government after 40+ years of service. My last position was Chief of Staff for a major Department of Defense agency, where I led a team of over 2,000 personnel and developed and successfully executed a budget of over 1 Billion. I have extensive experience in executive level leadership, including leading agency and interagency components, personnel and financial management, policy development, and technology development and application. My formal education includes undergraduate bachelors, masters and Ph.D. degrees.

LOWA Committees
Rules Committee

Community Service (Clubs & Organizations)
I was an active member of the Centreville, Virginia, community we lived in for 40 years, including coaching youth sports and serving on the Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) Board. My wife and I were active in our neighborhood's environmental efforts, including participating in trash pick-up days and Cub Run Stream ecology efforts. I currently serve on the Orange County Board of Zoning Appeals.

Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
I wish to support the LOWA community and management to meet the needs of all members in a responsible and transparent manner, sustain a fiscally viable operating budget, ensure that our lakes are healthy, and that our amenities are run efficiently in order to deliver value to our members.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
I believe the Lake of the Woods community has a very bright future, especially given the wealth of knowledge and dedication of the many members who volunteer to support our community. I have been concerned that there is a growing lack of attention to members' voices and issues, a lack of candor in communication, and discipline in the operation of the community. I believe we need a better understanding of what it takes to effectively operate all of the amenities, from staff, to contracts, to Reserves. In my view, the most important short and long-term goals for the LOWA community include restoring trust and civility, ensuring the long-term fiscal health of LOWA, and maintaining healthy and useable lakes and major amenities.

What Are Some Current Issues Outside of LOW That May Impact Our Community and Your Thoughts on Them?
There are a number of local and regional issues that impact the LOW community, from taxes, to road infrastructure and maintenance, to the Wilderness Crossing proposed development along Rt. 3, which I believe, will fundamentally effect LOW. Whatever level of development is ultimately approved, our roads, access and demand for water from RSA, green spaces and ecology just outside our gates will be stressed. I strongly believe LOW residents should actively voice concerns and work with the County and other organizations to minimize the overall level of development. I applaud the Friends of the Battlefield efforts to ensure any future development will minimize impact on these historic sites and believe we should do the same. I fully support Orange County's initiatives to seek long-term water access and future alternate water sources.

What Do You See as the Most Important Short- and Long-Term Goals for Our Community?
In my view, the most important short and long-term goals for the LOWA community need to focus on the needs of all demographics in our neighborhood, from retirees to families with children. I believe we need to restore trust and open lines of communication. I want our neighbors to know that their voices, concerns, and questions matter and that the people they elected to lead are fiscally responsible stewards of their HOA fees. We need to ensure the long-term fiscal health of LOWA, and maintain healthy and useable lakes. I want to bring back the joy of ownership in LOW and pride in the amazing amenities this beautiful community has to offer.

 

---

TILFORD HARDIN "TIPPY" SHARP

LOW Residence: Section 09

Education, Training, Relevant Experience

• BA, Morehead State University.
• During summers I worked in the coalfields of Eastern Kentucky, both strip and deep mines.
• Briefly worked as a maid at Grand Canyon National Park (Yes, making beds and cleaning toilets).
• I passed the entry exam to become a military pilot and chose the US Navy because I could start right away. Mostly flew the E2-C (286 traps, i.e., landings). My squadron was involved with Libya, Syria, Lebanon (Rev. Terry Waite's kidnapping and the hijacking of TWA 847).
• After serving in the Navy, I flew for Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines for 29 years. I have worked alongside individuals with Ph.D.s and a few with a year or so of high school—I learned from both.

LOWA Committees
I was on the LOW Election Committee, both as a voting member and Chair.

Community Service (Clubs & Organizations)
I volunteer at Childhelp two days a week from October to April with several wonderful people.

Why Do You Want to Serve on the Board?
I am a team player, hold no grudges, and I leave my ego at the door. I have the time and desire to put in the work for you. Lake of the Woods is the best place we have called HOME. We live at the lake, not on the lake. We take advantage of many of the amenities, but I am running for those that do partake, those that do not. The Board needs to remember those that are unable or do not use the many opportunities here and keep our dues reasonable.

What Do You Think Is the Most Pressing Issue Facing LOWA?
WATER is our most pressing issue. The health of our LAKES should always be the Board's number 1 priority. None of us would be here if not for the LAKES. Our sewer system is being overwhelmed with the number of residents. It has lasted far longer than expected. Our drinking WATER will soon be shared with DATA Centers, which will not benefit Orange County whatsoever. LOWA and Orange County need to plan for sewer and possibly a reservoir for all of Orange County.