Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 3, 1993 TAG: 9312030233
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR and ADRIENNE PETTY STAFF WRITERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The group had proposed a slate of nominees that would have ousted board President Steve Davidson and several other board incumbents who were up for re-election.
In their places, they wanted to put people who would further their desire for the organization to take a more activist stance on animal rights issues, such as the controversial Boar Walla Hunting Lodge, an exotic game preserve near Covington.
"We want a more aggressive and progressive board, a highly visible, highly vocal board that is not afraid to be seen or heard," said Waine Tomlinson, a member of the group that backed the board shake-up.
But after a final vote tally at the SPCA's annual board election, all but two incumbents were re-elected. Davidson was re-elected board president.
Only a handful of the group's nominees was elected. The two incumbents who were not re-elected - Jacki Lucki and Robin Watts - had backed the group's efforts.
The group solicited votes by proxy through a mailing two weeks ago to 968 of the SPCA's 1,051 members. An estimated 135 votes were returned.
But Davidson, declaring that the proxy votes were illegal according to the organization's bylaws, disqualified them. Another batch of proxy votes - about 84 - that had been cast for a slate of officers that included Davidson and several other incumbents who were not listed on the group's slate - were deemed legally appropriate.
Some members were infuriated at the election's outcome.
"The way this election has been conducted, I'll leave here thinking forever that I've been hoodwinked and really shouldn't have bothered to come at all," said one member, who declined to give his name.
Said another, "The board members that I know are the ones that work in the shelter. There are few members who only come to functions like the . . . black-tie event because it was a politically good thing to do.
"But who's mopping up the dog poop?"
Turmoil has been brewing within the organization for months. Some board members, including Davidson, accused some SPCA members of orchestrating a board takeover.
"I was paranoid someone was trying to hijack the organization," Davidson said. "A half-million dollars of assets was at stake. This board has accomplished a lot of things. I didn't want to see it go down the drain."
Lucki said the group's efforts were greatly exaggerated.
Infighting reached a head this week when Davidson publicly denounced SPCA Director Tammy Javier for misusing postage. He later retracted his statement.
There has been dissatisfaction among some SPCA members with the manner in which Davidson and several other board officers have been conducting business.
Some have complained about lack of member participation and notification of board activities, including the recent letter Davidson sent to Roanoke city administrators requesting that they either enter into a new contract providing increased fees for services or contractual services would cease in 90 days.
The SPCA board is trying to renegotiate contractual agreements with the five localities it serves - Roanoke, Vinton and Roanoke, Craig and Botetourt counties.
Of the takeover attempt, Davidson said, "I'm grateful it didn't happen."
by CNB