Voting in RCC Preference Poll Begins Friday, Sept. 13

Six candidates are running for the three available spots in the Reston Community Center's Board of Governors 2013 Preference Poll.

Voting begins on Sept. 13. The winners will fill three-year terms to help establish policy and oversee programs and budget for RCC.

This has been a busy year for the community center board, which announced last winter it was looking into the feasibility of building a new indoor recreation center at Baron Cameron Park.

RCC worked with consultants Brailsford & Dunlavy - and also held a series of sometimes-contentious public meetings about the proposed facility.

The new aquatic center - which could cost more than $30 million, consultants said -  would likely feature an indoor pool. The current one at RCC Hunters Woods is aging and is not enough to serve the community's needs, RCC Executive Director Leila Gordon has said.

The board announced in June that it would continue looking at the feasibility, as well as considering other locations for the facility, into 2014.

The pool issue likely has inspired the several newcomers to seek seats on the board. Many were very vocal during the public meeting process. 

* John Mendonça, Chairman and Treasurer of Reston Soccer Association. He spoke at public meetings against the indoor pool facility - saying he was not certain Reston really needed it and it would be taking resources away from soccer teams.

* Michelle Moyer, a Reston Masters Swim Team advocate who spoke for the need for a new pool at nearly every meeting.

* Tammy Petrine, a Reston Citizens Association board member who also spoke at many meetings encouraging RCC to be fiscally responsible and not build a facility with Smal; Tax District 5 taxpayer money that would serve the whole county.

* Sridhar Ganesan, former chair of Reston Association's Tennis Advisory Committee and RCA Board member.

Seeking a return to the board are two incumbents:

* Beverly Cosham - Current chair who is seeking her fifth term on the RCC Board of Governors.

* William Keefe - Board member since 2008.

To read more extensive bios of all candidates, click here.

Each property in small district 5 will receive a ballot in the mail. Mail-in ballots must be received by the counting agent (a pre-addressed envelope is provided with the ballot; postage is required) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3. Walk-in and online ballots must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct.  4.

A Candidates Forum will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 7:00 p.m. in the CenterStage theatre at RCC Hunters Woods, located at 2310 Colts Neck Road.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors established the RCC Board of Governors to represent the interests of the residents and businesses of small district 5 on issues affecting the Community Center. Board appointments are made by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors after residents of small tax district 5 have made their preferences known in the annual poll.