Columbia Council and Village Board Election Information
Last month a wrote a primer "Village Boards and the Columbia Council, explained" on the function and importance of these critical local government elected community positions and provided my pitch on why community members should consider getting involved.
Below is a village-by-village breakdown of the upcoming elections for Columbia Village Boards and Columbia Council representation (who sits on the CA Board of Directors).
Each of Columbia's 10 villages establish their own by-laws, board structure and election processes. And each village is different. For example, elected members of most villages serve two-year terms, whereas three villages (Hickory Ridge, Oakland Mills, and Wilde Lake) serve only one-year terms.
This year, 7 of the 10 seats on CA's Board of Directors are up for election. These include:
Dorsey's Search
Hickory Ridge
King's Contrivance
Long Reach
Oakland Mills
River Hill
Wilde Lake
Additionally, the voting methods, key dates, eligibility criteria, and candidate submission requirements differ for each village. Below is a village-by-village compilation of key information, but please refer to your village's website for specific details. Note that not all details are known for each village at this time, and I will update this article to fill in the "TBDs" as this information becomes available.
Dorsey's Search
Current CA Representative: Dick Boulton
Columbia Council Representation Election?: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: X out of 4
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: TBD
Election Date: TBD
Voting Methods: TBD
Village Board Meetings: 2nd Wednesday of each month, 7 PM
Website: www.dorseyssearch.org
Harper's Choice
Current CA Representative: Alan Klein
Columbia Council Representation Election?: No
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: 3 out of 5
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: March 14, 2021
Election Date: April 24: Abstentee ballots accepts up to 11:59 PM April 23
Voting Methods: Mail and electronic online voting. Detailed voting info will be sent out to residents via newsletters ~ April 1.
Village Board Meetings: 1st Tuesdays of each month, 7 PM
Website: www.harperschoice.org
Hickory Ridge
Current CA Representative: Jessamine Duvall
Columbia Council Representation Election?: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: 5 out of 5
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 1 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: Friday March 12, 2021, noon
Election Date: April 24, 2021
Voting Methods: In-person, mail, electronic online voting
Village Board Meetings: 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, 7:30 PM
Website: www.hickoryridge.org
King's Contrivance
Current CA Representative: Shari Zaret
Columbia Council Representation Election?: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: X out of 6
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: TBD
Election Date: TBD
Voting Methods: TBD
Village Board Meetings: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, 7:30 PM
Website: www.villageofkc.org
Long Reach
Current CA Representative: Janet Evans
Columbia Council Representation Election: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: X out of 5
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: TBD
Election Date: TBD
Voting Methods: TBD
Village Board Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month, 7:30 PM
Website: www.longreach.org
Oakland Mills
Current CA Representative: Ginny Thomas
Columbia Council Representation Election?: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: 7 out of 7
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 1 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: Friday March 12, 2021
Election Date: Saturday, April 24, 2021 (mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before April 24, 2021)
Voting Methods: Mail-in and if feasible, in-person (TBD based on pandemic and subject to change, see website for more info)
Village Board Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month, 7 PM
Website: www.oaklandmills.org
Owen Brown
Current CA Representative: Andrew Stack
Columbia Council Representation Election?: No
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: 3 out of 5
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: TBD
Election Date: TBD
Voting Methods: TBD
Village Board Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7 PM
Website: owenbrownvillage.org
River Hill
Current CA Representative: Renee DuBois
Columbia Council Representation Election?: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: X out of 7
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: March 21, 2021
Election Date: April 24, 2021
Voting Methods: TBD
Village Board Meetings: Varies (normally 1 meeting per month, except in March & April when there are two meetings - usually first Monday)
Website: villageofriverhill.org
Town Center
Current CA Representative: Lin Eagan
Columbia Council Representation Election?: No
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: 3 out of 5
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 2 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: Friday March 12, 2021 - noon. Candidate Statements due March 13
Election Date: Ballots accepted up to April 24, noon
Voting Methods: Absentee Ballots and Electronic Voting. Detailed voting info will be sent out to residents via newsletters ~ April 1.
Village Board Meetings: 2nd Wednesdays of each month, 7 PM
Website: www.columbiatowncenter.org
Wilde Lake
Current CA Representative: Nancy McCord
Columbia Council Representation Election?: Yes
# of Village Board Seats up for Election: 5 out of 5
Term Length: CA Rep and Board members serve 1 year terms
Candidate Submission Deadline: TBD
Election Date: TBD
Voting Methods: TBD
Village Board Meetings: 1st Mondays of each month, 6:30 PM
Website: www.wildelake.org