Association Board Elections

Taking a Page From RSF Post Founder to Raise Voter Turnout

04/27/2025
Editorial Board
Each Covenant property owner is allotted TWO ballots. Even if only one person owns the home, they still are allowed TWO ballots. If ownership status has changed (ie: death or divorce), you should inform the Association that your name as sole owner must be on both ballots. Click on this form to update your voter information and signature card. 

Ten years ago, Covenant member Nick Krnich felt that a majority of RSF residents weren’t being fairly represented and suspected a hindrance in RSFA voter registration was to blame. Krnich’s suspicions were confirmed when he found out that more than 40% of his fellow Covenant members weren’t voting due to what he called a “ridiculously laborious and difficult registration process.” As a result, he personally funded and launched a “registration to vote” website along with a news/open forum site — and the RSF Post was born. 

Pushback and a Pink Panther

But Krnich’s efforts were not without pushback. He recounted that although 90% of the community was responsive, supportive, and appreciative of the RSF Post, “a loud 10% were unhappy!” Especially when, as editor, he took a position on Association issues and backed two candidates running for the Board. He recalled how some members launched a smear campaign and circulated one of the candidate’s 15-year-old divorce records. Does anyone remember the “Pink Panther”? Candidates’ campaign signs were being removed in the night, and a woman clad head-to-toe in pink was caught on camera at the Rababy’s village gas station stealing signs from the property. Krnich said this behavior just served to motivate him even more to continue growing the Post.

Dressed head to toe in pink, the election-interfering “Pink Panther” was caught on tape stealing signs in the village during the 2014 Board election.

How about the RSFA Board’s reaction to the RSF Post back then? Krnich said they were less than enthused. “I know it’s hard for many younger and newer members to believe, but the Board tried to close us down early on. I received a cease and desist letter as well as a call from a Board member. I said, ‘Do you really want to go on record trying to close down a registration to vote and news site?’ I received a letter the following day backing off their demands.”

Navigating Today’s Voting Process

How is RSFA voter registration handled today? There are two important steps before the June 9th deadline to cast ballots. If you have any ownership or address changes, you must submit them to the Association by Friday, May 9.

  1. Confirm Address
  • Last week, the Association mailed all members the Annual Notice of Address form. California Davis-Stirling laws require the RSFA to update member information records to ensure accurate mail delivery of budget reports and ballots. If your mailing address has changed, fill out the form you received, or click on this form and mail it or drop it off at the Association offices. 
  1. Confirm Ballot Name/Signature
  • Many don’t realize that each property is allotted TWO ballots. Even if only one person owns the home, they still are allowed TWO ballots. But here’s the tricky part. If something has changed in the status of the ownership (ie: death or divorce) you must confirm with the Association that your name as sole owner is on both ballots. The election committee will compare ballot signatures with the signatures on file and discard the ballot if it doesn’t match. Click on this form to update your voter information. 

Election Turnouts and Turnoffs

In 2018, four years after founding the RSF Post, Krnich stepped down and handed the reins to current RSF Post Editor Rachel Laffer. But not before Krnich’s incredible efforts significantly increased the number of registered Association voters from 60% to 85%. One could say it was the impetus to a positive shift in RSFA leadership and financial accountability. 

But although voter registration is not as cumbersome, turnout is still low. We have around 5,000 eligible voters but roughly only 1,200 members voted in last year’s RSFA Board election. Do shenanigans like the “Pink Panther,” and other dirty campaign politics like dredging up divorce records and last election’s unwarranted attacks on candidate Dick Clotfelter turn off residents from voting (and running)? No doubt.

Maybe we can draw inspiration from RSF Post founder Nick Krnich, and encourage ourselves to keep the faith and continue casting our vote. He envisioned a Covenant where everyone participated in the election process with the goal of having a slate of seven directors who all would lead honorably, uncompromisingly, with good hearts and a willingness to serve every person who calls Rancho Santa Fe home. It could happen.