The Daniel Island Park Association (DIPA), which includes all single-family homes and townhomes north of I-526 (excluding Daniel Island Community Association and Daniel Island Town Association properties), transitioned to a property owner-controlled Board in January 2026. Below are some key dates for the 2026 election of the Board of Directors.
Important Dates
- September 29th, 2026: DIPA Board nominations begin.
- October 5th, 2026, by noon: Last day to submit your name for the slate of DIPA candidates.
- November 3 – November 9, 2026: Election of 2 DIPA Board members
- November 20th, 2026: DIPA Annual Meeting and Announcement of New Board Members
- TBD 2027: First DIPA Board meeting and election of new Board officers.
Current DIPA Board of Directors
- Pete Harper – President –2nd term expires 12/31/2027
- Paul Bayer – Treasurer – 1st term expires 12/31/2027
- Mary Sudzina – 1st term expires 12/31/2026
- Chris Bechhold – Secretary – 1st term expires 12/31/2026
- Mary Stuart Sutton – Declarant Appointed Member
Timing and Procedure
In 2026, there will be 2 Directors elected for a two-year term. Chris Bechhold and Mary Sudzina are completing their first term and are eligible to run for a second two-year term. The two new directors’ term will begin on January 1, 2027.
Board Candidate Nominations
Please submit by email the candidate’s name, address, email, phone number, a photograph, and no more than 2 paragraphs describing professional background and leadership qualifications to Danielle.Stix@dicommunity.org by noon on October 5th, 2026. The slate of DIPA candidates will be published in the POA electronic newsletter on October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, October 27th, and November 3rd, the weeks leading up to the election.
Board Election
The election will take place over seven days, November 3 – November 9, 2026, via an electronic ballot. To validate the election, we must meet a quorum of 10% of the Property Owners in DIPA to participate in the election. This means a total of 107 DIPA properties need to vote to validate the election. If you are unable to vote electronically on any of these days, you will be able to cast a paper ballot at the POA office during office hours (Monday-Thursday, 9 AM – 4 PM) from November 3 – November 9 as well.
YOU MUST HAVE ONE VALID EMAIL ADDRESS REGISTERED WITH THE POA TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION. This is to confirm your status as a property owner, to ensure your eligibility to vote in this DIPA Board election, and will also be where your voter’s code and the ballot will be emailed when it is time to vote. To confirm your email address on file or to register your email address with the POA, please email Danielle Stix at danielle.stix@dicommunity.org by 4:30 PM on October 20th, 2026, with your one preferred email address that you check most frequently as well as your property address.
Voting will be open at 6:00 AM on November 3rd and will close at 6:00 PM on November 9th. The winners will be announced at the annual meeting on November 20th, 2026. You must vote for 2 board members for the voting system to accept your ballot. Only ONE vote per property will be allowed pursuant to the Bylaws. Additional information regarding the election and the election process will be sent out closer to the election date.
The roles and responsibilities of DIPA Board members may be found in the DIPA Bylaws, Section C, on the POA website. The DIPABoard will continue to meet at least on a quarterly basis beginning in January 2027.
If you have any questions regarding the DIPA transition, please email Mary Stuart Sutton at MaryStuart.Sutton@dicommunity.org.
If you have any questions regarding registering your email address to vote, please email Danielle Stix at danielle.stix@dicommunity.org.
