USCF Election

Some adult readers will receive their ballot for the USCF Executive Board election in postal mail within the next week.  Frankly, chess politics make me cringe, and I sympathize with chess players who display zero interest as long as tournaments get rated promptly.  However, a national organization of 80,000 members needs competent leaders.

Six candidates vie for four seats.  The top two finishers earn 3 year seats and the next two are elected for 2 years.  Each voting member may vote for as many as four candidates.

Here are my three endorsements. 

• Ruth Haring hails from Northern California and attends local tournaments.  As current USCF President, she applies experience in business to help the chess community.
• Mike Atkins organizes and directs major tournaments on the east coast.  In his first term on the Board, he served the federation with an open mind and a steady hand.
• Randy Bauer is a chess master and an accountant in Iowa government.  A former Board member, he brings to the table financial guidance that the USCF often lacks.

I choose to vote for only three names on the ballot.  The other three candidates are: Beatriz Marinello, Tim Redman and Chuck Unruh.  While all six candidates appear dedicated to chess, I have specific reasons for not endorsing a fourth person.