FCSA Board of Directors Election: Meet the Candidates

Fort Clark Springs Association has mailed ballots to approx. 2833 voting members for the 2025 Election of the FCSA Board of Directors. Four candidates are listed on the ballots with space for write-in candidates. Specific instructions are also outlined on the ballot to ensure votes are properly counted. A brochure with candidate profiles was also included in the ballot mailer, introducing the 3 new candidates: Aaron Mendias, Sharon Wolfe and Warren Thompson, and 1 incumbent, Lisa Vale, all vying for 2 spots on the Board of Directors. Tony Hackebeil, current Secretary, withdrew his name from consideration. 

AARON MENDIAS:
I'm a proud third-generation member of Fort Clark Springs. My grandparents built my home in Unit One back in 1972, so I’ve grown up seeing the Fort’s history and changes firsthand. This perspective has inspired me to step up and serve on the Board. My hope is that by working together we can ensure this unique and historical community thrives for generations to come.   

I am a graduate of the University of Houston where I earned a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Environmental Design with a minor in construction management.

As I have pursued my career in design and construction, and built my small business, I have developed skills and knowledge that are very applicable to the Fort. Over the last five years, I have led design and managed construction projects across the country, including luxury homes and ranches in Rancho Santa Fe, CA; Aspen, CO; Whitefish, MT; and Piney Point, TX. I have had many historic landmark and historic district projects completed throughout my career.

I have come to believe that I can contribute in a meaningful way to help my friends, neighbors, and our community with the complex issues that we are all facing and must engage to ensure that this unique Texas community continues to thrive for generations to come. 

The task at hand is vast and varied, requiring a measured approach and an understating not just of our current issues, but also the history of how things came to be. A position on the board is a civic duty and service to the community for which I care deeply.

In my current term, I served as Treasurer (1 year), President (2 years), and during the 12 combined months FCSA was without a General Manager, I volunteered 50+ hour weeks to ensure daily operations ran smoothly until the BOD hired a permanent GM. I believe my second greatest accomplishment was reconciling all accounts not once, but twice and to finally modernize and streamline the accounting process, allowing FCSA to catch up on audits left past due by a prior GM. Working with fellow Directors, I’ve accomplished a lot to shore up the foundation of FCSA: Accounting Clean-up (Saves $), New CPA (Saves $), Collections Back On-Track (Capturing Outstanding $), Lots Back on Market (Makes $), Common Property Alteration Form (Protects FCSA Property), Keyless Entry at Fitness Center (Saves $), Fair Lease for Gun Club, Lower Hunting Fees for Members, and others.

To say that this journey has been a labor of love is an understatement… but like you, my love for Fort Clark is strong. With your vote, projects I hope to continue working on include: Property Value Protest (Potential to Save $), Protecting FCSA Interests in any possible Flood Mitigation Plans, and many more.

SHARON WOLFE:
I am running for the FCSA Board and would like to introduce myself, Sharon Wolfe, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I would like to know what you would like to see accomplished for the future of FCSA.

• 26 years 1975 - 2001 Industrial Sales, Norville Wilder, Chucking Equipment, Alamo Iron Works, Rex Supply.
• 9 years 2002 - 2011 Bechtel Corporation, Contract Manager, responsible for several subcontractors, installing cell towers, Motiva chemical plant, contracts with subcontractors setting up the facilities.
• 1978 Chairperson for Society of Manufacturing Engineers, St. James Catholic Church Parish
• 14 years, 2008 - 2022 Owner, planned construction and managed rentals of 6 units and 2 houses Owner of Roundhouse Cafe.
• Del Rio Amistad Lions Club, Sanderson ISD, School Board, Past Chairman of Terrell County Republican Party,
• Editor-Publisher of Terrell County Sun, newspaper, managed the campaign for the (4) conservative candidates of KCGW District.
• I have experience in grant writing and winning three (3) grants total of $105,000 for St. James Catholic Church.

I am a permanent resident of FCS and would like to use my experience managing rentals, construction, contracts, advertising and grant writing to help FCSA. I will use my experience to preserve the Las Moras Springs, the historic buildings, and improve the amenities. Market FCS to bring awareness to potential residence and bring Fort Clark Springs back to to it former greatness.

WARREN THOMPSON:
My primary reason for wanting to serve on the Board of Directors is to educate myself and others about WHY we have allowed ourselves to expect more while doing and paying less and why some areas/ activities are heavily subsidized at the expense of more profitable activities or property. To be more specific, WHERE have we spent the tens and thousands of dollars generated from the RV Park? | believe it has too often gone to paying unquestioned expenses at the Golf Course. Where are the volunteers to help our paid staff to mow the grass trim the trees, decorate the tee boxes, serve in the club house, and make sure everyone is paying their fair share. I have served on the board of a golf course, donated thousands of volunteer groundskeeper hours, and paid for a membership I never used to support a local unprofitable 9-hole golf course in my previous town. If those types of golfers do not exist at Fort Clark Springs, then why are the other 97% of the FCS membership being asked to maintain this unappreciated adult activity while neglecting the tennis courts, ball fields, basketball courts, and building repairs? My second concern is how we coordinate our activities and support our facilities/building at Fort Clark Springs. I believe the Community Council (CC) should be the main location for the vast majority of discussions, coordination, and implementation of ideas and projects. Helping one another should be its main goal.