OCEAN PINES – A Worcester County Circuit judge has ruled in favor of Rick Farr, a disqualified candidate in the 2021 Ocean Pines Association board election.
On Wednesday, Judge Sidney Campen issued his opinion on a complaint filed against the Ocean Pines Association (OPA) and its Board of Directors. In his ruling, issued nearly two months after the trial’s conclusion, the judge granted Farr’s claims for declaratory judgement and ruled him an equitable Pines homeowner and eligible candidate in the 2021 election.
“The Plaintiff, Richard D. Farr, is an equitable owner of the Property, and at all relevant times, was qualified as a candidate for election to the 2021 Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors,” Campen opined, “and The Board of the Ocean Pines Association acted improperly, mistakenly, and without good faith, in contravention of the By-laws, the Charter, and Declarations, by attempting to invalidate Plaintiff Farr’s candidacy, during the 2021 election, after certifying his candidacy and permitting him to be included on all distributed ballots, and after many votes had already been cast and received by the Ocean Pines Association.”
Campen also ordered that the top vote getters, Farr and incumbent Frank Daly, be installed for a term of three years commencing Aug. 15, 2021.
“The 2021 election for the Ocean Pines Board of Directors has taken place,” he wrote in his conclusion. “Despite the unauthorized efforts of the current Board members to influence the outcome of the election, both during and after the final ballots were collected, the Ocean Pines voters have spoken. It is in the best interest of the Association, that the election results stand and the two successful candidates, Richard D. Farr and Frank Daly, are installed as Directors at the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.”