Who Will Be the Next Sharpstown Civic President? Contested Election Happening November 21
Against a backdrop of low membership and short funds, Sharpstown Civic Association secretary Anne Wilburn is challenging incumbent president Matthew Cowan in this year's board election. Wilburn nominated herself from the floor during the October 24 general membership meeting, while the directors nominated Cowan during September's board meeting.
Cowan, a board member since 2016, is wrapping up his first one-year term as president and hopes to serve another. But Wilburn, halfway through her first two-year term as director, hopes to become the next president instead.
In a way, the race is "old guard" versus "new guard." Wilburn, a Sharpstown homeowner since 2005, began criticizing the SCA board on Nextdoor in late 2022, prompted by the board's push to become a full HOA with mandatory dues, and by a contentious election in which long-running directors "staved off" what they described as a "hostile takeover" by dissatisfied general members. But in 2023's election, Wilburn catapulted from outside critic to SCA secretary, running unopposed after Annie Love dropped from the race.
Cowan, on the other hand, has served in a variety of board roles for years: member of the nominating and bylaws committees, author of the current bylaws and the revised bylaws that got voted down last year, and unofficial "rules lawyer," the man many directors look to when questions about Robert's Rules of Order arise during meetings. He moved to Sharpstown in 1971, attended Ed White Elementary, and graduated from Sharpstown High.
What Are Their Platforms?
At Thursday's meeting, Wilburn said, "Sharpstown deserves a civic association that is responsible, responsive, and representative, and works for our whole Sharpstown community."
In the one minute she was allotted to speak, she said that her priorities are to
apply the deed restrictions in a way that maintains and upholds the safety and livability of Sharpstown...align how we spend our money with the preferences and priorities of the community...and build an SCA that attracts and welcomes all the members of our community.
How will she determine the priorities of the community? Wilburn plans to use online and paper surveys. Her recent survey on Nextdoor got 41 responses, and "showed that multiple families living in single family homes is the first concern, followed by businesses being run out of homes," she wrote in an email. But she thinks more surveys are needed.
Wilburn directed members to her campaign website for more information about her platform. There, she highlights what she believes to be key issues with the current state of the civic association, including this year's deficit spending and the lack of member engagement. She says she plans to balance the budget and improve the SCA's communications with the community.
Matthew Cowan doesn't have a campaign website, but during his one minute, he said, "My goal as president is to remember that we are a civic association, so we can have good purpose like we are now, and also that we are an HOA, so we enforce deed restrictions evenly and appropriately."
He shared further details of his platform via email:
Providing a service to enhance the quality of life in the neighborhood by keeping home values solid and the community safe. Remember your home, after your Family, is the biggest investment you have.... [I]t is important to have a strong SCA to keep guard of that investment and to provide that extra bit of safety and security that the city is unable to provide....
By providing community activities and opportunities we bring opportunities for people to know each other and to grow as a community....
This past year we have put a push on our general meetings working to change the trend of lack of attendance. Things do not change over night but it is a process....
This past year have given me insights to see how to rectify pass issues and insights how to grow. It all takes time. I look forward to doing that.
Cowan also created his own detailed, lengthy online survey to gather members' feedback.
Who Else Is Running for the Board?
Debbie Calkins, a regular observer of SCA board meetings—and a Sharpstown resident since 1978—nominated herself from the floor to serve as a director. According to SCA nominating committee chair Matt Wine, there are ten open director slots, and the board only nominated six people in September, so Calkins is running unopposed.
Here's the full list of directors up for election (all of whom will "win" their seats as long as they receive at least one vote):
- Debbie Calkins
- Kathy Holston
- Charmaine Leblanc
- Carlos Martinez
- Matt Wine
- Elizabeth Schooler
And here's the list of nominated officers:
- President:
- Matthew Cowan (incumbent)
- Anne Wilburn
- Vice President: Elizabeth Schooler (uncontested)
- Treasurer: Helen Zhou (uncontested)
- Secretary: Charmaine LeBlanc (uncontested)
How to Vote?
Any SCA member who has paid this year's dues by November 13, 2024, is eligible to vote in the board election. It will be held at the annual meeting on November 21.
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