Walden Lake Community Association elections are Thursday, April 14. Meet the four candidates.
Four Walden Lake residents have their names on the ballot to run in the upcoming Walden Lake Community Association elections. Each member on the board serves three-year terms. Incumbents running for another term include current WLCA President Bob Hunter and board members Rich Glorioso and Ray Page. Alicia Powell, president of the Parkwood subdivision, has decided to throw her hat into the race.
Elections for the WLCA Board will be held at the community’s annual meeting on April 14 at Plant City Church of God. Ballots, which will be mailed out to residents, can also be dropped off at the Walden Lake office, 3035 Griffin Blvd.
Meet the candidates:
Rich Glorioso
After a 27-year career in the United States Air Force, Rich Glorioso retired and relocated with his family to the Walden Lake community in 1994.
He was first elected to the Walden Lake Community Association in 1997 as a director, a position he held until 2004.
Glorioso took a respite from serving on the WLCA board until 2013, but remained active in the Plant City community. From 1998 to 2004, he served as a Plant City Commissioner. In 2004, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and served until his term limit in 2012.
In 2013, Glorioso returned to the WLCA board, serving as vice president and later president. Multiple improvements throughout the community, including dock repair, were done with one developer to cut costs.
Glorioso also noted that during his most recent board terms, the Timberlane Drive exit on Alexander Street was
“I’m running for re-election because I appreciate the opportunity to serve Walden Lake. I want to get the WLCA out of debt. We’re still way over budget.” — Rich Glorioso
rebuilt with two left turn lanes to improved traffic flow.
If re-elected to the board, Glorioso will remain focused on the beautification of the community while remaining fiscally responsible. He is opposed to both the proposed golf course rezoning and the WLCA’s involvement in the lawsuit against Visions Golf.
Bob Hunter
The current president of the WLCA, Bob Hunter has served on the community association’s board for over six years and has also been treasurer.
Prior to serving on the WLCA board, Hunter was the executive director of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission, which deals with long range planning for unincorporated Hillsborough County, Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City. He held the position for 24 years.
When Hunter and his wife made the decision to move to Plant City, they fell in love with the Walden Lake community.
As president, Hunter has tried to make the community compatible with future developments coming to the area, while improving existing infrastructure.
Under his term, the vacant 26-acre polo field begun renovations to become the Walden Lake Sports Complex.
“We want to make our neighborhoods compatible with new neighborhoods. We need to try to create a team of people to keep the community safe, viable and going in the right direction.” –Bob Hunter
The complex currently boasts four-square pads, pavilions, a baseball field and a hibachi grill. Further additions are to be made over the next three to five years, including a basketball court and a walking path.
Security cameras have also been installed at the guard houses on Timberlane Drive.
Ray Page
Ray Page has lived in Walden Lake for 16 years and has served as the president of the Wedgewood subdivision since 2006. He has served on the WLCA board of directors for four years.
As a board member, Page has made beautification one of his primary points. He currently chairs the board’s Landscape Committee and has served on others, including the Budget, Finance and Job Descriptions Committee; the Building and Development Committee; and the Walden Lake Sports Complex Committee.
“What’s important in Walden Lake is not only maintaining property values, but improving the values of every resident. We need to increase the quality of life and the standard of living.” — Ray Page
Page has helped save the community $10,000 dollars by working with Ajax Construction, the City of Plant City and CLC Total Care for development at the Alexander Street entrance to Walden Lake. Additionally, he negotiated the existing landscape contract from 42 weeks to 52 weeks per year for no additional cost.
Page also ensured that in-house maintenance staff was used to provide services. This eliminated the cost of hiring an outside contractor.
He’s a supporter of the use of reclaimed water in the community and is focused on keeping Walden Lake as a sustainable community while other developments begin to grow within Plant City.
Alicia Powell
The only non-board member, Alicia Powell has been the president of the Parkwood subdivision for the last four years. She is HOA-certified.
She and her husband, Bob, were two of the first residents to build their home in Parkwood 28 years ago.
If elected, Powell hopes to bring a new voice to the board while supporting enhancements to the community.
Though she is the only candidate running who has never served on the WLCA board, Powell attends the board’s monthly meetings and has followed its decisions and likes the direction it is going.
Powell currently is on the Walden Lake Sports Complex committee, which has made modifications to the formerly vacant polo field on Griffin Boulevard.
“I just think that I can bring objectivity to the board, listen to their concerns and vote objectively. I hope to be given the opportunity to serve on the board of directors for the Walden Lake Community Association." — Alicia Powell
She is pleased with the results and has heard positive feedback from residents.
In addition to her contributions on the Sports Complex committee, Powell has also volunteered for three years
with Walden Lake’s Howl-O-Ween festival.
If elected, Powell would want to focus on beautifying the Walden Lake community, especially on the high-traffic Timberlane Drive.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
