By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Elections for the Wood County Committee on Aging’s governing board have never been real barn burners. In good years, maybe 200 or so seniors would cast ballots. Since COVID, it’s been closer to 100 who vote to fill eight of the 15 seats on the board.
“It was like pulling teeth,” board member Tim McCarthy said of the last election.
Board member Sue Hess suggested that elections be held on a day when liver and onions, a favorite among diners, is on the senior center menu.
“That’s the day we need to walk around in cafeterias and get people to vote.”
Board member Paul Herringshaw noted that the purpose of the elections is to get input from those who use senior center services. But if they aren’t voting, is it really the best way to get the best people to serve, he questioned.
So last week, the board debated some possible changes to how the WCCOA board seats are filled. The current makeup of the board includes eight elected members, six members selected by board’s executive committee, and one appointed member. The current appointed member is Ben Batey, chief health officer at Bowling Green State University.
The board has been working with Dr. Abhishek Bhati, a professor of political science at BGSU, on how to work toward a more diverse board, in terms of occupational backgrounds, race, age, and geography.
A downside to holding elections for the majority of the board includes the fact that most senior center patrons don’t know the candidates and tend to vote for people already serving.
“New people have a very difficult time getting on the board,” said elected board member Roger Anderson.
Few volunteer boards require their members to actually run for election, and some potential WCCOA board members are likely reluctant to volunteer if they have to campaign to be elected.
Elections also lead to similar types of people on the board. For example, at least half of the board membership is required to be 60 years and older. But as she gazed at the board members last week, WCCOA Executive Director Denise Niese noted a trend.
“Looking around this table, Brooke (Harrison) and Ben (Batey) are the only ones under 60 years old,” Niese said.
Board member Nancy Orel suggested that the bylaws be amended to require existing board members to submit names of people they believe would be good on the board.
The bylaws committee is also looking at shifting the requirements so fewer board members – or possibly none at all – have to be elected.
Niese said the elections are “like the homecoming vote in high school.” She said it would be helpful to have people vetted based on their fields of expertise – like farmers, physicians and attorneys. That process would help broaden the diversity on the board, by ensuring members from regions of the county served by satellite senior centers, and making space for people with experience as caregivers, and the younger generation, possibly a gerontological student from BGSU.
McCarthy expressed some reservations about removing all the elected seats, since the WCCOA still needs to pass tax levies to support senior services. He worried it could be a bad look to have all members selected.
Niese said the board has held elections for members since its inception in 1975 – nearly 50 years.
“We need to move into the 21st century,” she said.
To make changes to how board seats are filled, proposed bylaws will need to be voted on. Prospective board members would be vetted by the nominating committee, then go before the executive committee, then be voted on by the full board.
Following is a list of the current board members:
- Elected members – Roger Anderson, Bowling Green; John Calderonello, Bowling Green; Janet DeLong, Bowling Green; Sue Hess, Bowling Green; Tom Milbrodt, Bowling Green; Nancy Orel, Perrysburg; George Stossel, Weston; and Judith Wahrman, Bowling Green.
- Selected members – Sue Hart-Douglas, Walbridge; Brooke Harrison, Wayne; Paul Herringshaw, rural Bowling Green; Louis Katzner, Bowling Green; Tim McCarthy, Perrysburg; and Jim Miles, rural Bowling Green.
- Appointed member – Ben Batey, BGSU.
