OCEAN PINES – Ballots in the Ocean Pines Association Board of Directors election are going out this week to Ocean Pines property owners, who will choose two directors from a field of five candidates.

This year’s contest, the results of which will be revealed at the OPA Annual Meeting on Aug. 11 at 10 am., is notable for the clear differences between those running.

Following a social hour between candidates and prospective voters at The Park Clubhouse on Monday, contestants in this year’s race got down to business at the second of two forums this summer.

Following a three-minute opening statement, each candidate responded to questions submitted before the event by audience members. Each response lasted two minutes.

When asked for each their vision of the future of the community, all the candidates focused on economics, with Bill Cordwell, Sharyn O’Hare and Bill Wentworth agreeing that Ocean Pines’ aging facilities need improvement.

Mark Venit and Marty Clarke, however, said spending is fine only if the project makes sense for the community.

At the completion of audience questions, each candidate was given the chance to pose a question to one another.

Highlights from the segment were when Clarke suggested reducing payroll expenses at major facilities and when Wentworth proposed taking $25 out of each homeowner’s property assessments to be used at Ocean Pines facilities.

Ballots must be received by the OPA by Aug. 9, and will be counted the following day. For more information on all five candidates, visit http://oceanpines.org.