RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - The Rancho Murieta Association Board has appointed John Wyly Haviland to fill the board vacancy left by Renee Bechthold, who recently resigned for health reasons.

The board selected Haviland after interviewing two candidates during a special meeting on Feb. 13. The other applicant was Matt Bingaman. 

Two other noteworthy topics surfaced during the meeting. One director indicated that the board had authorized nearly $60,000 in administrative bonuses without informing the membership. The other was a board member’s observation that, while residents rarely attend meetings or engage with the board, many quickly express strong opinions behind a keyboard.

Haviland, a retired prison warden, moved to the community with his wife during the pandemic and has since attended nearly every board meeting. He has served on the Rancho Murieta Association Recreation Committee and was recently appointed to the Rancho Murieta Association Compliance Committee.

Bingaman is a realtor and teaches Brazilian jiu jitsu classes at the Rancho Murieta Association Building. He and his wife founded the Cosumnes River Activities League to support local youth.

When asked for comment after the meeting, Haviland said he was honored to fill the seat vacated by Bechthold. 

“I look forward to serving this community and will do my utmost to continue the outstanding work she has done,” he said. “I am thankful for the support and encouragement of my friends.”

Haviland’s Qualifications

In his candidate statement, Haviland said he understands the challenges and opportunities of a homeowner’s association, having lived in three distinctly different gated communities.

“As a warden, I was responsible for running a large facility that functioned as a small, self-contained city,” he wrote. “I am highly trained and experienced in employment law, staffing, budgeting, and strategic planning, as well as the day-to-day operation of a multi-faceted organization.”

Haviland was the warden at California State Prison, Solano, in Vacaville. He previously worked as a budget analyst for the California Department of Corrections and as a program analyst for alcohol and drug programs.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from California State University, Sacramento, and is also a California State University Leadership Institute graduate.

In addition to his involvement with Rancho Murieta Association committees, Haviland has served as a board member for the ETC and volunteered with the Hiram Johnson High School Key Club.

 He also served as board chairman for the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City and has volunteered with the Friends of the Vacaville Libraries Book Sale and Habitat for Humanity.

The candidate interviews included one board question and individual questions from the directors.

Board President Patrick O’Hern asked both candidates what they viewed as Rancho Murieta’s major issues and how they would address those challenges.

Haviland identified the security of the community’s amenities and facilities as the biggest challenge. He noted that the board is already addressing this issue by forming the Perimeter Security Ad Hoc Committee, which he fully supports.

He cited the community’s aging infrastructure, which is nearly 50 years old, as the second major challenge.

Bingaman agreed that security is a significant concern, though he noted it wasn’t the primary reason he chose to run for the board vacancy. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to engage the community’s youth, who often feel bored.

Bingaman said that he works with young people through his involvement at Rancho Murieta Community Church and as a martial arts instructor. He and his wife also founded the nonprofit Cosumnes River Activities League to provide meaningful activities and connections for local youth.

Bingaman said he hoped to step into Bechthold’s role as chair of the Recreation Committee to bring more value to local families. “So, I will put it on the table right now. If that would not be the primary focus of my role I wouldn’t be the best candidate,” he said. “But if it is recreation focused, I feel like I am a natural for that position.”

Director Chris Childs began his question by noting that few residents regularly attend board meetings or engage with the board. “We live in a community with a lot of people who have a lot of strong opinions, and they’re really not afraid to voice it on a keyboard,” he said. “They like to be keyboard lawyers from a distance.”

Childs said he was pleased that both men had applied for the vacancy but asked why they had chosen not to run for the board in the last election in November.

Bingaman said the timing wasn’t right. “The stars did not align at that time, but I feel now is the time to step up,” he said.

Haviland said he chose not to run because he wouldn’t have been able to attend candidates’ night. After four years of regularly attending board meetings, he felt confident in the two incumbents running for reelection. “Even if I didn’t run, I knew we would have a great board.”

Director John Van Doren expressed his hope that the candidate who wasn’t selected would continue to stay involved and volunteer in the community. “I’m going to refer to Monty Python, and I am going to ask you what is your favorite color.”

Haviland said his favorite color was purple because it was his grandmother’s favorite. After her passing, she left him some money, which he used to buy a purple motorcycle in her honor. “She was a charter member of Sacramento Cycle,” he said. “That’s a woman’s motorcycle group.”

Bingaman said he didn’t have he didn’t have a favorite color. “They are all beautiful and serve a purpose on the spectrum,” he said. “When a rainbow comes out, we can see them all at once.”

Director Danny Carrillo said that one of his primary concerns is transparency. He presented a hypothetical scenario where a board approves approximately $60,000 in administrative bonuses but does not openly disclose the expenditure to its members. “In your opinion, does this scenario reflect transparency?” he asked.

Bingaman said that, based on the limited facts Carrillo provided, the scenario reflected a lack of transparency.

Carrillo responded: “Amen. Thank you.”

Haviland agreed with Bingaman but noted that confidentiality rules can sometimes come into play.

Director Scott Adams responded to Carrillo’s question by explaining that the Davis-Stirling Act sets guidelines for HOA board activities, “including activities that the board is obligated not to share for a variety of reasons.”

When Adams asked if that information would change their answers, both candidates said it would, citing their own experiences with confidentiality.

Under the Davis-Stirling Act in California, homeowners association (HOA) boards have the authority to manage personnel matters, including decisions about employee compensation and bonuses, without requiring approval from the membership, according to Davis-Sterling.com, a website maintained by a law firm specializing in HOA regulations. 

Director Tom Reimers said the candidates had answered his questions.

O’Hern asked each director to submit a paper ballot. Per Elections Inspector Jim Moore, one ballot with marks for both candidates was discarded. O’Hern did not announce the final vote tally.

After Moore administered the oath of office to Haviland, O’Hern congratulated him and adjourned the meeting.