After reviewing the candidates’ biographies, hearing their presentations at Meet the Candidates, reviewing the records of those who have already served, and speaking directly with most of the candidates (apologies to those with whom I did not connect), choosing candidates to endorse for all open seats has proved uniquely difficult this year, but I believe that #2 Craig Lehner, #7 Karen Suss Wolfson, #8 Laryssa Shainberg, #10 Nicole Napolitano, and #13 Phung T. Nguyen are the best choices for our co-op’s leadership.

The Seward Spark strives to endorse candidates with varied skills and backgrounds, who are in touch with the needs and desires of different segments of our co-op’s diverse population, who seem to understand the demands (and limitations!) of Board service, and who will be able to work cooperatively with others on the Board.

Two candidates stand out from this crowded field:

#2 Craig Lehner — Craig is a guy I said “hi” to in the elevator countless times, but only really met once he decided to run for the Board. He has impressed me. Craig brings financial savvy at a level above all of the other candidates and sitting Board members, seems totally genuine and very energetic in his desire to serve the co-op, and has the disposition to make productive contributions in the Boardroom.

#7 Karen Suss Wolfson — Karen has been on the Board for decades and represents extraordinary institutional memory and a deep connection to many, many neighbors. She has also worked hard over the years on screening committee matters and is a consummate professional, managing to stay out of the fray whenever Seward politics grew heated. 

I divide the remaining candidates into roughly three groups:

1. Incumbents Darcey Gerstein and Jessica Kramer have worked incredibly hard in their roles on the Board. I genuinely like them personally, am awed by their dedication to their roles, and have consistently supported them in their past campaigns. But in my opinion, they have grown too defensive about things that many shareholders view as missteps, and a break in (hopefully not an end to!) their Board service might give them a fresh perspective and give the co-op more room to move forward.

2. The “Cooperators Slate” of Guido Hartray, Maria Ibañez and Rachel Wilkerson, together with their supporters, have mounted an impressive organizational effort to push back against the way our campus renovation was planned. I had a really good, lengthy conversation with all three of them at one of their campaign events. But I (and other neighbors) found the tone of their group’s communications to sometimes be divisive and condescending, and I fear they underestimate the challenges of actually serving on the Board. If they win seats, however, I sincerely hope they will prove me wrong.

3. I consider the others less “aligned,” but among them I lean toward Laryssa Shainberg, Nicole Napolitano, and Phung T. Nguyen. They are distinguished by Laryssa’s community board experience and friendliness, Nicole’s outstanding Meet the Candidates presentation and unusual background (criminal justice), and Phung’s background as a Big 4 consultant and accountant and his activism for the children’s playroom.

Please join me in voting for #2 Craig Lehner, #7 Karen Suss Wolfson, #8 Laryssa Shainberg, #10 Nicole Napolitano, and #13 Phung T. Nguyen.

Whether or not you agree with the above choices, however, please exercise your shareholder right to vote via proxy or on June 9 in the lobbies.

Your Neighbor,

Micah Arbisser
Seward Spark Publisher