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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | MARCH 2026 | 15 Candidates for District Delegate and Alternate Delegate filed paperwork to be included on the April ballot. After all the dust settled, it's clear there's plenty of room for others to get involved. Six Districts (2, 6, 8, 11, 13, and 21) have neither a candidate for Delegate or Alternate Delegate. The remaining 17 Districts have at least one candidate for Delegate, but only eight also have a candidate for Alternate Delegate. That means 21 of 46 positions (45 percent) in the DDA will go unfilled this April unless something changes. The Delegate's principal function is the verification and recording of votes for HOA elections. Under current bylaws, if a District has neither a Delegate or Alternate Delegate, the Chairperson of the Delegate Assembly can "stand-in" to record the votes providing that District has voted in sufficient quantity to make quorum (anything greater than 50 percent). If there aren't enough votes to reach quorum, then the Chairperson cannot act as a Designated Delegate and the votes will go unrecorded. At this point, should someone step forward to vie for the positions, no one can be added to the ballots. Someone could still be elected to these open positions by means of a write-in campaign or appointed by the Board. Hopefully the roster may not look so bleak as we approach the 2026 election. Three individuals will be nominated to seats in the Delegate Assembly prior to this year's election to help ensure recording of votes proceeds smoothly. Our system needs someone in all positions to have the chance to work well. Election time at Sun Lakes means everyone has the responsibility to educate themselves about the candidates running for the Master Board. Pick up candidate information sheets in the Main Clubhouse and attend one of the Meet and Greet sessions scheduled to better understand their knowledge of, and vision for, Sun Lakes. The Candidate Forum is Wed., March 4 at 4 pm in the Ballroom. Submit your question(s) for candidates when you get to the Ballroom or send them in via email to sunlakesforum@gmail.com. A panel of Delegates screens questions and sends the best forward to the moderator. It's your only opportunity to hear how candidates may differ on issues within the community, as everyone has to provide an answer to the same question. You'll be able to catch this event rebroadcast on Channel 97 and posted to Good Day Sun Lakes. Please be sure to vote. Return your signed ballot, even if you only vote for one person. Every ballot returned helps your District reach quorum which in turn means all the votes will be recorded. ~ Cal Martin From the Delegate Assembly

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