A PDF of this content is available using this link: 2026 LPOA Candidate Bios
2026 LPOA Candidate Bios
LAURIE SWITZER – Candidate for President
Laurie Switzer is a cottage owner and permanent resident of 526 Elm Avenue with her husband, Jim. Laurie has been actively involved in Lakeside as member of the Pool Committee that resulted in the pool and wellness center. She served on the Teen Committee which renovated the Teen Center as a more inviting place for today’s youth. Additionally, she is an avid lover of Lakeside history serving as the Librarian and Media Specialist for the Lakeside Heritage Society. This past winter, her focus was on transforming Heritage Hall into a modern museum telling the Lakeside Chautauqua story. Finally, Laurie served as chair of LPOA Social Committee for the first two years of the “Quiet Season” bringing year-round activities for homeowners reflective of the Chautauqua Pillars.
She retired from a large suburban public school system where she had roles in not only teaching, but community engagement, grant writing, and leadership. Following her retirement, she moved on to a second career in public media at ideastream Public Media, Cleveland. Roles included communication, grant writing and management, video production, and community engagement offering the opportunity to further sharpen leadership skills.
As President of LPOA, Laurie intends to collaborate with the LPOA Board and members to advocate for–and innovate initiatives and solutions—that preserve and promote the rights of the Lakeside Homeowners outlined in our signed leases. She intends to promote a working relationship with the Lakeside Association administration and Board that supports strong communication, accountability, and an greater understanding of the very large contribution that homeowners and their properties make to the success of Lakeside Chautauqua.
ROGER GILCREST – Candidate for Vice-President
My family purchased our cottage at Second and Peach in 1974, and my mother Irene enjoyed decorating it in the period style, creating a “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” for the cottage tour. It was my father’s desire that we keep the cottage. They both passed in 2017.
In 2022-23, we completely restored our cottage to its original Folk Victorian architecture. Reflecting the area’s history, our cottage name “The Lower Lights” is drawn from “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning,” a popular 1871 hymn written by Philip Paul Bliss (1838–1876) about a Lake Erie shipwreck reported by D.L. Moody around the time of Lakeside’s founding in 1873. Matthew 5:16.
Our children Tyler, Evan and Lauren – now young adults – have enjoyed Lakeside with us, and the Independence Day celebration has become a yearly tradition for 40 years. We welcomed our fourth-generation Lakesider, Wyatt Gilcrest, in April 2024. We have hosted Lakeside Symphony Orchestra musicians at our cottage during the LSO season.
My wife Patti and I live in Delaware, Ohio, but we regularly make the 2-hour drive to tend to our cottage to prepare for renters. I am able to attend LPOA meetings personally. I share the view of so many that Lakeside is highly valued for its peaceful and spiritual atmosphere affording families time to enjoy themselves through the community facilities and Chautauqua activities, and nurture their Christian faith. Lakeside might well be described (using the form of Churchill’s famous Russia description), as a religious movement (or church), wrapped in a community, inside a charity (or some variation thereof). I believe one of the principal challenges to the LPOA is forwarding the interests of cottage owners within that unique framework.
Professionally, I have practiced law as a member of the Ohio and California bars for 42 years, specializing in patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, and believed I developed skills in understanding problems and their technical solutions, and clearly expressing those solutions principally through written communications. Accordingly, my experience therefore has been in the fields of innovation and overcoming the challenges of bringing new ideas to market. I have only limited experience in construction and public works, and know even less about municipal finance and management; so, I still have much to learn.
As to my personal faith, I confess my belief in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with a saving knowledge of His sacrifice for my sins. I enjoy attending Port Clinton Bible Church (formerly Port Clinton Bible Methodist) when I come to Lakeside and consider myself an evangelical Christian. I humbly serve as the president of the Delaware, Ohio Camp of the Gideons International. The organization delivered Gideon Bibles to the Fountain Inn and the Hotel Lakeside.
I pledge to assist the LPOA Executive Committee (and the membership at large) in organizing and discussing both residents’ delights and concerns, to clearly communicate the membership’s views to the Lakeside Association Board, and to provide the members’ reactions to the implementation of new ideas and initiatives the Lakeside Board may take on the member’s behalf. I believe the LPOA’s work should be done with a view toward stewarding the interests and rights of Lakeside property owners for the seasons of our children and children’s children; all to the Glory of God.
GINGER O’MALLEY – Candidate for Sergeant-at-Arms
I, Virginia (Ginger) O’Malley, wish to state my interest in putting my name on the ballot for Sargent of Arms for the upcoming Lakeside Property Owners Assoc. election. I feel able to fulfill my duties due to my past election experience. I have been involved in the state of Ohio for 45 years with duties at poling locations as well as being elected to the Election Board of Putnam County, Ohio. While on the Board I was tasked with helping select and convert to the electronic voting system. Upon moving to Estero, Florida I became head of our HOA Election Board in a community the size of Lakeside. There I also ran the first electronic election. I hope to convert Lakeside as smoothly.
TODD BUNDY – Candidate for Trustee
Please accept this statement as an expression of my interest in serving as a Trustee of the Lakeside Property Owners Association. Nancy and I have owned our cottage at 325 W. 2nd Street for more than 25 years, and Lakeside has become an important part of our family’s life. Until 2020, I was principally a summer weekend resident while my wife and two daughters spent most of each summer at Lakeside. For 11 of those years, my wife owned Dockside, where my daughters and various nieces and nephews worked. In 2020, when remote work became possible, I began spending full summers at Lakeside. Since then, you are likely to find me playing tennis at the Williams Tennis Center, reading at the Pavilion, or attending Men’s Bible Study on Tuesday mornings.
I currently serve as “Of Counsel” with Black McCuskey, a law firm in Canton, Ohio, where I have practiced since 2000. I have practiced law since 1980, with a career focused primarily on corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, real estate, banking, and contracts, along with related litigation experience. Over the years, I have also advised several nonprofit entities, including homeowners associations, on a variety of matters.
As a Trustee of the LPOA, I would hope to bring that experience to assist the Board as it considers the issues before it. I have no agenda in seeking to become a Trustee other than to work with the Board to protect the interests of Lakeside property owners, whom I have come to recognize as the backbone of the Lakeside community. Property owners help make Lakeside the special place that it is. I do have two areas of concern for the LPOA: affordability, particularly in light of rising taxes, assessments, and gate fees that may affect the next generation of property owners; and safety, as living on 2nd Street has given me a firsthand view of near misses involving bicyclists, pedestrians, and automobiles.
I am 71 years old and look forward to spending many more summers at Lakeside. My wife of 45 years, Nancy, is a member of the Lakeside Foundation Board.
BRUCE HALL – Candidate for Trustee
I am Bruce Hall. My Lakeside address is 653 Jasmine, a new home, owned by myself, my wife, Susan, my daughter, Katie, and her husband, Doug. I am 77 years old and I am semi-retired. I have been an Attorney in Medina, Ohio for over forty years and been an attorney since 1974. Part of my practice was representing homeowner’s associations. Part of practice was representing homeowners against homeowner’s association. My wife and I have been going to Lakeside since 1974. My wife’s family has owned a house in Lakeside since 1928. I have been attending homeowner’s meetings for at least forty years. My wife and I have traveled to other Chautauqua sites, including New York, Michigan, and Martha’s Vineyard.
I have witnessed many, positive, changes in Lakeside. Properties have been improved, new homes have been built, and most of the gardens and flowers are beautiful. This has happened over many years.
I am running to be a member of the Lakeside Property Owners Association. I believe I can make a meaningful contribution to this Board.
Article II of the By-Laws states that the purpose of the Association is to advance the interests of Lakeside Property Owners. I want to be part of that effort.
I know the LPOA has become more responsive to the Lakeside property owners. I know the LPOA listens and carefully considers the voices of the homeowners. Thank you for your consideration.
ROB McFARLAND – Candidate for Trustee
I have a life-long commitment to community support through service. Professionally (practicing retirement) I am a real estate and business consultant.
• Immediate past Mayor and current Councilmember in North Bend WA
• Board member, Commissioner, Chair/President of 15+ business, government, homeowners associations, and non-profit agencies.
• Skills include: leadership; development and implementation of standards, policies and procedures; resource evaluation and development; and establishing governing systems with clear accountability.
In each endeavor I work to build bridges and relationships, manage expectations and deliver effective, positive results. I’ll offer one example: As President of the Board for a local non-profit agency, I led the revision of board and agency by-laws, policies and procedures leading to transformation of the board from a 30+ member/dispersed responsibility group to a 12member governing structure with clear lines of staff/board authority and a fund-raising development program growing donated revenues by 10 fold in just the first two years post adoption.
I am supportive of the recent work done to update the LPOA bylaws and engage with the Board on governance of Lakeside. I also believe there is much left to do on both. I would be honored to share lend my skills and knowledge to furthering the mission of the LPOA as it evolves to serve coming generations of Lakesiders.
I am based in the Seattle area and Switzerland; squeezing in as much time as I can muster at our Island View home.