Backstory: By now, everyone may have already heard that HSVPOA Board Chair, Cindi Erickson, has sent out an email to Villagers for Board Candidate, Nikki Choyce. Ms. Erickson claims this is not an endorsement. Immediately below is Bob Busse’s response to the Board Chair.
Email sent in response to Cindi Erickson’s non-endorsement email to Villagers
2/5/2020
Cindi,
As the Chairperson of the HSV Board of Directors, messages and comments coming from you carry much more weight and meaning than something from the average member. Since you sent out, to your mailing list, a biography of Nikki Choyce, it basically says to members that you approve of her candidacy, or you wouldn’t have sent it out. (In an election, synonyms). Whether you contend that you are acting as a member and not BOD Chair, and it is for informational purposes only, it still is coming from the Leader of the HSV BOD and in essence the highest-ranking individual in community government. This action is totally improper and unethical.
Since you claim that three of the candidates have an extensive supporting cast and therefore you are helping a disadvantaged entrant in the election, will you be doing the same for Mr. Denger, who also has less notoriety and support than even Ms. Choyce, Chairperson of the important CMPAC? I am sure he would appreciate the assistance, as does Ms. Choyce.
Regarding the other three candidates; it should be of absolutely no consideration to you whether you think a candidate has support and backing or not. If you, as the ONLY member-Chairperson of our BOD in the entire community, if you decide to become involved in the election and send out information of only one of the five people running, it is wrong! You are picking someone in your favor to help and not the others. If you are a fair and ethical person and play by the overwhelmingly accepted rules of public elections, you will send out information on all the other candidates as you did Ms. Choyce.
Unfortunately in your singular position, you have no choice. It goes with the position. I will be waiting for your response and will offer my help in gathering biographical information from the other 4 candidates.
Respectfully,
Bob Busse
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Note from the editor: Madam Chair, in my opinion, your email was theoretically an endorsement of Nikki Choyce even though you said it was not an endorsement. We sincerely hope you will attend our non-partisan Meet and Greet on February 22, 2020. This is an opportunity for ALL the candidates to participate and they have ALL agreed to come.
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We are hosting a non-partisan BOD Candidate Meet and Greet on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at the Coronado Community Center. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome as are all the Board Candidates. All five have confirmed they will be attending. There is no charge for attending this event. Hope to see you there!
Minn Daly
02/05/2020 — 5:29 pm
Thank you Bob for sending out this information. There is NOTHING that BOD Chair Erickson could say to me to change my mind on anything connected to coming election of NEW BOD members! If anything is accomplished it would be mis trust of anything she states! We need to elect Lloyd, Tucker & Dick to take our community forward & correct the egregious actions that the current BOD/CEO have imposed upon this community. Chairs action speaks To continuous alignment of control within HSV POA. I am supporting LTD! Minn Daly
Tim patton
02/06/2020 — 4:30 pm
I agree totally I will vote with you let’s start a chain and get people in there that will work for all the people.
Tom Blakeman
02/05/2020 — 5:50 pm
Hey, I didn’t get the email. Guess I’m not on Cindi’s list. Somebody please post or forward it.
Dick Truth
02/06/2020 — 6:05 pm
Are you going to Hold Dick Garrison to his statement to reduce spending by $2,000,000.
You did the same for Tormey.
Dick is making promises that are doubtful he can deliver. Promises like this are just made to get elected.
Phil Lemler
02/07/2020 — 8:11 am
Oh Lesley … you are just concerned the first reduction will be YOU!!!!
Vicki Husted
02/05/2020 — 5:59 pm
Thank you Bob Busse for challenging this unethical behavior, and thank you, Cheryl Dowden for publishing it.
This is typical of the way so much has been done “behind the curtain” and under cover of darkness and denial to put us where we find ourselves now.
HSVP J
02/05/2020 — 6:14 pm
I believe this is definitely an endorsement of Nikki Choyce. In my opinion, our Board Chair is adept in the art of Double Speak. A non-endorsement becomes an endorsement.
Unfortunately for Nikki, a non-endorsement/endorsement from our Board Chair is probably the Kiss of Death in the current political arena of Hot Springs Village.
A vote for Nikki Choyce is a vote for the continuation of the CMP status quo forced upon Villagers by our CEO and her legacy 2018 board hold-overs. The Board Chair is merely trying to protect her queen. Just my honest opinion!
Marjorie McCleskey
02/05/2020 — 7:32 pm
I recommend Mr. Busse’s missive be sent to the Village Voice. Whether they decide to publish is anyone’s guess. I won’t be holding my breath.
Julie
02/06/2020 — 4:46 am
There is no way they will publish it. They are complicit in all the wrong-doing of the “ceo” and the board by their abject failure to report on anything of substance.
They are not journalists. Period.
Clyde Berry
02/06/2020 — 10:56 pm
Amen to Julie’s assessment of the Voice. Up until 3 mos ago I was a sixteen year subscriber.
Karen Daigle Lundberg
02/05/2020 — 9:25 pm
Robert Busse, thank you for your article and for bringing this situation out into the open where it belongs. Everyone please look at the huge spotlight Robert Busse just lit up, and you will see right in the middle of that spotlight, the arrogance of Cindi Erickson. The ARROGANCE of our entire leadership needs to GO IMMEDIATELY!! I have never in my life seen such arrogance from a group of people, both individually and as a team, and after working for attorneys for 30 years, that is a monumental statement!!
Kathy
02/09/2020 — 7:33 am
I agree
Andy Kramek
02/06/2020 — 8:22 am
I sent Ms Choyce an e-mail through her web site asking three questions. Here is the e-mail and her reply (Note that even though I said I am a non-resident she seemed to think I should have been at the forum…).
—- Begin —-
I am a non-resident property owner (though I did live in the village for 4 years).
Would you please explain: [1] Why you fail to mention that the Committee you chair is the CMP Advisory Committee. Do you not think it is important to mention that fact?
Response: If you were at the forum last night, I did mention it. Why is this important to you?
[2] Why, in your position as Chair of that Committee did you deliberately suppress the Marketing Sub-Committee report?
Response: as this is an open issue, I am not at liberty to discuss at this time.
[3] How you reconcile your stated intention to ‘Examine all sides of an issue, benefits and consequences, before supporting a course of action” with the suppression of the Marketing Sub-Committee report.
Response: see above response
— End—
That is all there is. So much for transparency and openness!
Andy Kramek
02/06/2020 — 9:31 am
In the interest of completion, here is my response to Ms Choyce’s reply:
—- BEGIN —-
Dear Ms Choyce
Thank you for your reply. You asked why I feel your non-disclosure of your position as Chair of the CMPAC is important. The answer is very simple. It is to do with things called “Honesty” and “Transparency”. To that end I am posting both your reply, and this e-mail on every public site that I can reach so that other property owners can be fully informed.
Since you are the Chair of that committee you must be aware that the CMP is, to put it mildly, a contentious issue for many people. That is especially true for people like me who, as non-resident property owners, have a considerable investment in the future of Hot Springs Village. Now, whether I personally agree with the vision the CMP portrays or not is irrelevant but what is relevant is that you clearly tried to hide the information and, unfortunately, got caught red-handed and publicly.
Incidentally as I specifically told you that I was a non-resident your implication that had I bothered to attend the forum I would have heard about it is both facile and insulting. Unfortunately for you, I have seen the video of the forum and you did NOT mention it in your opening statement. All you talked about was your experience as a Project Manager. Had Lloyd Sherman not raised the issue no-one would have known, now, would they?
Thank you for taking the time to read this.
Respectfully
Andy
Anne M Shears
02/06/2020 — 10:56 am
A endorsement from HER, is analogous to a character reference from Pee Wee Herman
Sue Sutley
02/06/2020 — 1:46 pm
Thanks, Andy! I was there and was pretty sure Ms. Choyce never mentioned her role as chair of the CMP committee until forced to do so. Guess my memory is not as bad as I thought! LOL
Sue Sutley
02/06/2020 — 2:15 pm
Response to Ms. Choyce’s question, Why is it (being chair of the CMP committee) important? Because one does not normally volunteer their time on a committee whose goals and tasks they do not support or are of interest to them. Therefore, your postion on said committee is interpreted by me and I’m sure many others that you fully support the CMP and its implementation. This is in direct opposition to the viewpoint of many in the Village. Thus, now knowing you fully support this plan and are working to implement it, we voters can make an informed choice when we vote this month. Also, your lack of transparency in regards to this issue and the marketing subcommittee report is another troubling concern. IMHO
Andy Kramek
02/06/2020 — 2:33 pm
You are exactly right, Sue. The obvious inference is that she knows that advertising her participation in, and especially her key role in, the CMPAC would not be popular so she tried to hide the fact. This alone, irrespective of her behavior with respect to the marketing committee report, would be sufficient grounds for most people to doubt her commitment to transparency and honesty.
The fact that she thought she could get away with not disclosing this vital information also suggests, in my opinion, that she doesn’t have much respect for property owners in general. That would, of course, be right in line with most of the current Management (and Board).
Helen Sanders
02/06/2020 — 2:43 pm
Since I’m not privileged to received Madam Chairs e-mails to select members, would someone please post that e-mail if they received it?
HSV voter
02/06/2020 — 7:15 pm
I also did not receive it, even though i usually receive other HSV emails.
Seems oddly random. Thankful to read about it here!
Karen Bump
02/06/2020 — 3:33 pm
Was this meeting videotaped? If so, is there a link?
Andy Kramek
02/06/2020 — 4:44 pm
Yes:
https://www.facebook.com/HSVillageVoice/videos/871063153330944/
Moe
02/06/2020 — 7:33 pm
My choice is NO Choyce.
Mark
02/06/2020 — 8:11 pm
Sounds like Nikki is gonna be about as popular here as LN. Are we sure she isn’t a clone?
Scott
02/07/2020 — 5:31 am
Dick Garrison is heading down the same path as Tormey……saying he can take $2,000,000 out of our ongoing expenses( the audience Responded with applause.. Tormey made a similar assertion. In his case it was $3,000,000. Tormey later announced in a public meeting that his belief was a mistake. I think his exact words were:”I was wrong, there is no way our expense budget can be reduced unless we want to reduce infrastructure maintenance.
I’m excited that Dick’s plans to reduce our expenses by $2,000,000 . Maybe he knows something Tormey does not know.
I look forward to him executing his expense reduction he has planned.
I know the followers of this site will hold him accountable should his promises not be delivered.
HSVP C
02/07/2020 — 5:53 am
Thank you, Scott. There are other ways to reduce expenses without reducing infrastructure maintenance. I hope you can attend the Meet and Greet on February 22, 2020, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Coronado Community Center. I am looking forward to chatting with you. – Cheryl
Chipmunk
02/07/2020 — 6:03 am
I would think simply cleaning out the executive suite along with a few directors would capture most of that $2 million.
Phil Lemler
02/07/2020 — 8:49 am
Hey Scott … is that you Scott??? How was the hunting trip? Were you able to “hunt down” a revenue plan?
Phil Lemler
02/07/2020 — 7:33 am
I believe that Dick Garrison knows substantially more about business finance and cutting expenses than Mr. Campagna … plus, Mr. Campagna came to the board with a “belt tightening” agenda and was “set straight” by the CEO… Mr. Campagna backed off!
Mr. Garrison came to the board with a “change for the better” agenda …. refused to back down … and was viciously and inappropriately removed from the board. He was removed … exactly, because he knows how to cut the fat … and, the board/CEO were intimidated.
Mr. Garrison will be back on the board soon …. he will have support this time and the cost cutting will begin!
Scott
02/07/2020 — 9:06 am
Hey Phil,
Don’t know what you mean by hunting trip.
Scott
02/07/2020 — 9:06 am
Hey Phil,
Hunting trip?
Phil Lemler
02/07/2020 — 11:40 am
Hey … someone named “Scott” was telling us 20 to 30 complainers we should relax and go fishing or hunting … wasn’t that you?
Scott
02/07/2020 — 1:12 pm
Must have been another Scott.
Phil Lemler
02/08/2020 — 7:22 am
My apologies! Scott …
Moe
02/07/2020 — 8:01 am
If LTD are not elected then invest in for sale signs…they will be all over the place.
Mark
02/07/2020 — 9:39 am
No more bad choyces.
Real Truth Seeker
02/07/2020 — 10:09 am
Hey, DICK “Truth” and Scott ( maybe an AKA) – You are conveniently misstating the intent about cost savings or reduction of compensation expense. Even though we are NOT a for-profit corporate entity, we are trying to establish the reporting structure so that we act like one. IF any of you were in Corporate America you know downsizing is Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and it is way past time for those types of austerity measures. The total compensation line has increased by $3 million in the last 5 years and are you suggesting that a good manager couldn’t realign the staffing resources to save a substantial portion of that increase? I know I could! Then let’s discuss that we do have a “spend freely” environment. I could also save $’s in that sector also. So in the absence of a revenue generation strategy and the refusal to implement cost savings strategy, it’s pretty obvious to those who have done it that it can be done. Attack Mr. Garrison if you will for a specific amount he may, or may not, have spoken related to this matter, the reality is we have built a top-heavy management structure at the expense of the resources needed for our infrastructure. The Board should demand an austerity program and nothing is off-limits at this point. Stop attacking those who can actually make a difference and become part of the solution instead of the status quo. Lloyd Sherman
Scott
02/08/2020 — 7:52 am
I’m sure you think cost cutting will help, and it could be a short ten fix.
Expense are not the long term problem.
It’s revenue.
A real test of your ability will be to see if LTD , if elected, can fix revenue. Any incompetent business person can cut expenses.
Only good ones can stimulate revenue growth.
Robert Busse
02/07/2020 — 1:15 pm
Real Truth Seeker, wonderful evaluation of the situation. And what you mentioned is low hanging fruit, easily removed by anyone who is serious about trying to get our finances into a more positive position.
Downsizing is the first thing good managers and leaders look at when they need help on their bottom line. If our leadership was anything to be respected, they would be taking a hard look at the numbers of senior positions we have and what those positions are being paid. Particularly since our leadership teams have been unable to reverse the negative trend of our overall finances. And this problem is certainly not new, having been a primary problem for quite a while now. Our CEO seems to think that adding positions with high salaries is the way to get us out of this hole. How sad.
Gerry T
02/07/2020 — 2:36 pm
Hey everyone! Relax. Cindi’s “endorsement” of NIkki Choyce is like Nancy Pelosi endorsing any of the Dem candidates.
It’s the KISS OF DEATH!
Nikki now, doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in Arizona at getting a seat on the BOD!
Thank you Cindi. Job well done!
VOTE LTD – Lloyd – Tucker – Dick.
They are our only hope for a better HSV.
The Beaver
02/08/2020 — 7:48 am
If I would have known about the power struggles here in the Village, I am certain I would not have moved here. I see little effort here to mend fences and learn to work with each other with respect. We are running this place into a ditch. I know there are some very good people that live here and many do a lot of volunteering but at the same time there are many people that want everything their way.
Think about what a person from the outside would think reading this site. Would you move here?
Andy Kramek
02/08/2020 — 9:10 am
Think about this! It is not the Property Owners who are responsible for the “power struggles”. The struggle exists because the management of the Village has been taken over and is now being in directions that the majority do not want.
Did you move to the village because you wanted to live in the largest gated community in the United States? Maybe it was because it is also a beautiful, peaceful, rural environment where the vast majority of people own their own homes on lots averaging 1/4 acre. Maybe it was because the place is populated with people from all parts of the country who, for the most part, are in the later stages of life with a long record of accomplishment. Maybe it was because it is a golfer’s and fisherman’s paradise, with lots of other clubs, societies and opportunities to worship at the church of your choice.
Conversely, perhaps, you moved here because you hate all of the above and want to see it turned into an gate-free, urbanized paradise with town centers, walkable neighborhoods filled with high-density housing units at twelve houses per acre. The new population would, ideally, be comprised largely of millenials and of course that means bringing in the things that they desire – nightclubs, restaurants, cinemas etc and, of course, lots of high paying jobs.
If the first, then you need to join the fight to stop the CMP, for which no property owner was allowed to vote, and whose stated objective is to turn the former into the latter. To do that we need to elect people to the Board who will do that – so vote for Sherman, Omahundro and Garrison.
Of course if want the second then, you need to get fully behind the New Urbanist clique and vote accordingly. Vote for Choyce (Chair of the CMPAC) and whoever else you feel will do the least to oppose the CMP and will help turn the village into something it never was, is not, and can never, be.
Bob McCleskey
02/08/2020 — 5:29 pm
Does anyone know the reasons Cindy Erickson (current board chair) did not run for a 2nd term? Serving only 2 years is somewhat rare, so I hope it was not due to a personal medical, financial, or other issue. Does anyone out there know the answer?
Hazel Ecyla
02/09/2020 — 12:00 pm
Could she be eyeing a highly paid position within the POA after her departure from the board ???? Hmmmm
David
02/09/2020 — 6:46 pm
If CE, the BOD chairperson, is the highest ranking civilian in the Village then I would like to share a saying that some may recognize from a time a long time ago …….”if you leave meat out over night, in the morning when you smell the stink you”ll know its gone rank on ya.”