Candidate Forum Q&A

Questions I Missed at the Candidate Forum

Unfortunately, I couldn’t attend the recent Candidate Forum due to a long-planned family obligation. However, I want to honor your interest and answer the questions that were asked during the forum. You can watch the recording here.

Transparency and open dialogue are key to good governance—and I’ll always show up with direct answers, even when I can’t be there in person.

Social media is how most people share and receive information today. It should absolutely be used during campaigns to promote transparency and civic engagement. That said, the POA has restricted candidates from posting in Big Canoe-related groups—an outdated policy that limits open discussion. I believe we should revise these rules to reflect modern communication norms, allowing for respectful dialogue in public forums.

2. What are your thoughts about replacing septic tanks with a sewer system?

I’m not an engineer so I’m not qualified to have an opinion on the need or feasibility of doing this. Replacing septic with sewer could improve water safety and long-term land value, but it would come with significant costs to both property owners and the community as a whole.

It is a long-term decision requiring a comprehensive study by the appropriate experts. Then a discussion must be had to share the results of the studies, estimated costs, environmental impact, feasibility, and community input.

3. Is it ever okay to allow hate language against employees? What do we do about it?

Hate speech of any kind has no place in any community. Period. As you know, because of my candidacy I’ve been the target of some of the attacks. It’s the responsibility of community leaders to speak out clearly against it, enforce appropriate policies, and model respectful behavior. We can disagree on issues without resorting to personal attacks.

4. Police inside the gates?

Safety matters. We already have a Public Safety team and I believe they are doing a great job. We live in a safe community, and I believe we have adequate public safety resources in place.

One recommendation is to look at our gate policy to see if we’re accurately tracking guests who come in and out. We might also consider a light overnight security presence at some amenities to deter mischievous behavior.

As needs grow, it might worth exploring partnerships with local law enforcement. Any change should be guided by facts, not fear. Residents deserve to feel safe and respected, and the approach should balance presence with community trust.

5. Rate the communications from the board over the last 4 years. And if that score is less than a B, what recommendations do you have to improve it.

Without commenting on any individual’s contributions, previous boards have missed the mark on public communication. There is a lot of room for improvement. The board and communications team publish a lot of information, but that doesn’t mean the communication is effective. It’s not what was said, it’s what was heard.

My recommendations are here

6. What are your thoughts on non-property owner weddings?

The Clubhouse is a POA asset subsidized by property owners. If it’s being used for private, non-resident events like weddings, we need approval from the community and transparency on the financials.

Do the events take resources from regular operations? Are the events profitable? Are they displacing resident use? If approved, how can we support these events without degrading the property owner experience?

Let’s put community benefit first and review the numbers to ensure we are being fiscally responsible and good stewards of an important community resource.

I agree. Every major financial decision like capital projects and amenity upgrades should be backed by a detailed pro forma. This ensures fiscal responsibility, prevents surprises, and builds community trust. If elected, I’ll push for professional-level financial modeling and transparent sharing of the assumptions behind our numbers.

Thank you for reading my platform. I hope you found it informative and helpful in understanding my vision for our community.

Have a question or something to say? Send me an email: jcfortheboard@gmail.com

Prefer to talk? Book a time with me.

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J Cornelius — Candidate for the POA Board
jcornelius.com/poa

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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. – Margaret Mead