Pearson: Sun City rec board candidate withdraws, give thanks
Posted
Thank you to the 150 Recreation Centers of Sun City members who signed my petition to run for the board.
As you may have noticed, I am not on the list of candidates. As I told many of those signing, I would only stay in the race if there weren’t sufficient numbers of candidates to choose from. Clearly there are and on Oct 12, I withdrew from the race. There are three candidates, John Fast, Jean Totten and Steve Collins, I can easily support. There are two new candidates I want to watch and listen to what they have to say at the candidate forums.
From the day we moved to Sun City in 2003, I have been involved across a broad spectrum of the organizations that make Sun City unique. I won’t bore you with the details, so many others before me have done so much more. It is how and why Sun City was/is so special. As a Sun City historian, I know understanding our values enhances our way of life. This community was built around these values — ownership, responsibility, accountability and the constant quest for a sense of community.
Ten years ago, we threw away the slogan “The City of Volunteers.” We became “The Original Fun City.” Since then, participation in the process of self-governance and ownership has fallen flat. Organizations that rely on volunteers struggle and, worse yet, RCSC members have stayed away in droves. It wasn’t until a board member was fired in 2021 when members were angered.
Two things happened from that foolish action — we conducted the first annual membership meeting since 2009 and the fired board member was reelected by the largest vote total in years.
Self-governance only works when those living it participate in it. During my entire time in Sun City, I have long argued for more membership involvement. While serving on the RCSC board, as a minority board member, I was unsuccessful and watched in dismay as the RCSC ran from our history. Being in the minority while serving on the board is sadly an exercise in futility. This coming election is the first time since 2006 we can turn the corner and restore those values Sun City was founded around. Watch the candidate forums before you vote. Listen closely to what each candidate says, and more importantly whether they are willing to listen to what you have to say.
Sun City is a great place to live; it can be so much better.
