The Residents Association is preparing for a September 18 pre-election of RIOC Board appointees. It will coincide with a primary election.

Some details are subject to change, so Website NYC10044 will carry updates at nyc10044.com/RIOCelection as well as the package of forms the State will require candidates to complete. Queries can also be directed to RIOCelection@gmail.com. Meantime, here are the requirements – most subject to refinement over the summer:

• Candidates must be at least 25.

• Candidates must be Island residents, with no required minimum duration of residency.

• There will be a Candidates Night prior to the election, probably no later than mid-September.

• Potential candidates can be placed on an e-mailing list to receive alerts when new information becomes available, by sending a request to RIOCelection@gmail.com.

The election will be one step in the process. Ultimately, under the law, only the Governor can name people to the RIOC Board of Directors. Their appointments must then be confirmed in a State Senate vote. Along the way, there is a State Police investigation – part of the process for all State appointments.

The RIOC Board has nine members, two of whom hold seats by virtue of their State offices (the Chair, who is Housing Commissioner, and a representative of the State Budget Office). The rest – seven – are potential resident-electees.

The terms of some current resident Board members have expired, while others will continue to serve. The status of the Board at the time of the election will presumably determine how many open positions there are, with the possibility that having "surplus" winning candidates might provide for a vacancy, either expected or unexpected.

The idea of a mostly elected RIOC Board of Directors has been around for some time, and was even the subject of legislation put forward by then-Assemblymember Pete Grannis after work by the Maple Tree Group. But September’s election will be only a partial move toward election of the Board members, since the process will produce a list of elected candidates that will go to the Governor. He will then select appointees. It’s indirect, but RIOC President Steve Shane and DHCR Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen have said they’ll do their best to make sure the Governor goes along with the results of a resident election.

Under the plans being made, all Island residents of voting age, regardless of national citizenship, will be eligible to vote.