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WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT,
THE ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT OF YOUR ASSOCIATION
OR THE ELECTION FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?
By
Eric Glazer, Esq.
Published
July 23, 2012
I
know what you're thinking after reading the title of the blog
today. Has Eric lost
it? Is this a
serious question? Obviously,
much more important to me is the election of the President of
the United States. The owner of unit
3N vs. the owner of unit 11B simply doesn't match-up to Obama v.
Romney. Wait.
Hold that thought.
Several
years ago, I represented an individual in a civil rights lawsuit
against a municipality. The
gist of the complaint was that the local officials, including
the Mayor, City Manager and Building Official were purposefully
violating my client's rights to live in the community with the
same rights as everyone else and that because of a personal
vendetta by the mayor, my client's rights were violated through
never ending harassment.
In
preparing my research for the case, I remember coming across a
court opinion that basically said something like ---- don't be
afraid of The President, your Senators and other federal
officials. They are
too far removed from your day to day life to cause you any real
personal harm. On
the other hand, you should be wary about local officials because
they have the power to make your life a living hell if they want
to.
If
we agree with that court's opinion, then it certainly bears true
that nobody has more power perhaps to make your life more
miserable than the President of your own association.
Especially if that President is not shy about his or her
dislike for you and is not afraid to act outside the bounds of
the law.
During
the last presidential election, over 64% of eligible voters
participated in the election.
That percentage is traditionally greater than the
participation in the typical condominium or HOA election.
Yet, the next President of the United States won't be
able to tow your car, foreclose on your home, slander you in
public, harass you with threatening letters, lien and foreclose
on your home, prevent your guests from visiting you, turn off
your electric, scream at your kids or steal your money.
At one point or another in my career, I have known rogue
association Presidents to have done all of these things and
more. Any one of
them can make turn your life into a nightmare.
Two or more of them can make it impossible to even live
in your home. On the
flip-side, I have seen Presidents who turns the community from
an army barrack into a fun loving friendly environment.
So
now that you have had time to think about it a little, I'll ask
again. What's more
important to you personally in your day to day life, the
election for President of your condominium or your country?
P.S.
time is running out to register for the Condo Craze Board
Certification Seminar at the PM-Expo event in
Orlando
on August 15th. To
register, please go to: www.condocrazeandhoas.com.
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