One of the more astounding stories in the 50+ years of the Ocean Pines Association is the journey of Rick Farr from rejection as a board candidate in July of 2021 to his election as president of the Ocean Pines Association on September 9, 2023.

Farr's saga began when he was a candidate for election to the OPA Board of Directors in 2021 and questions were raised about his eligibility. During a special board meeting on July 30, 2021, the then Board of Directors challenged Farr's eligibility with regard to his OPA property ownership via some sort of a family trust. The challenge came after election ballots were in the hands of OPA voters.

Farr attended that special meeting and rose during the public comments period. Minutes of the meeting state: "Mr. Perrone called for a break to allow Mr. Farr to discuss his ownership status with Jeremy Tucker (OPA Attorney)." Tucker subsequently informed the board that Farr was eligible to make public comments.

However, the board then went into a closed session to consult with counsel on Farr's eligibility to be a candidate. Minutes of the meeting state: "Secretary Camilla Rogers declared Mr. Farr ineligible during the closed session." The minutes then contain the following motion by Larry Perrone: "I move that since the Association Secretary de-certified Mr. Farr as a candidate for the board election, to continue the election process, to not count the votes recorded for Mr. Farr, and to let the votes be recorded per our bylaws and resolutions." Seconded by Ms. Rogers, the result was "4 in favor, 3 abstain."

Over the course of that special meeting, one had to marvel at Farr's composure during such a trying public process. Regardless of anyone's view of the politics involved at the time, Farr's calmness and deliberative demeanor were exceptional under the circumstances, perhaps due to his long service in the United States Air Force in Human Resources. He handled a difficult situation calmly and with dignity.

However, Farr did not just accept the board's decision and walk away. He hired attorney Bruce Bright to challenge the decision in court. Political divisions formed in the community, a few remaining even today.

Farr prevailed. The court found the OPA Board of Directors had acted in bad faith. Even after all the publicity during the actual election process, when the votes were eventually counted, as directed by a judge, Farr received more votes than any other candidate and finally took a Board of Directors seat on January 15, 2022 - nearly six months after the normal August election time.

The Dispatch newspaper quoted Farr as saying, "We do have to move on. The judge did his ruling, like it or not, and we have to move on. I'm not here to boast about what happened, I'm here to do the business of the community. Not the best interest of the board but the best interest of every citizen here." 

Many political events and changes took place after that July 30, 2021 special board meeting when Farr was declared ineligible. Not one member of the then board of directors was at the board table when Farr was elected president last Saturday. Two individuals appointed to fill board vacancies by the prior board majority who rejected Farr lost in their effort to gain an elected seat on the board in the 2022 election.

Farr comes to the OPA presidency with what appears to be a solid five-member board majority. His election as president was unanimous. Bruce Bright, the lawyer who battled and won Farr's case in court, is now OPA counsel.

In 2007, Farr retired from the Air Force after 22 years of service, continuing his Human Resources service-related work in the private sector. A full-time resident of Ocean Pines since 2019, he is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Worcester County Veterans Memorial at Ocean Pines Foundation.

Association members hopefully look forward to a year of little political drama with a board united under Farr's solid policy leadership and continued exceptional operational control by General Manager John Viola.

Asked at the Saturday meeting how he felt about becoming OPA President, Farr said, "I am very humbled and honored  to serve the OPA Membership and will do my best for the community."