My name is Karin Emery--I'm your neighbor and I'm your representative on the Columbia Association (CA) Board of Directors representing the Village of Oakland Mills. 

As a member of the CA Board of Directors I work to...

• Protect and conserve open spaces for the benefit of the residents, including paths, streams, lakes, and play areas (pka tot lots) - along with resident experts I stopped a destructive stream restoration project that would have negatively impacted 70 acres of open space. I'm working hard to change how CA approves land transactions so that residents are better informed. Read my policy proposal on land transactions here.

• No Additional Cost Pools for Residents - I worked with resident financial experts to analyze CA's annual budget and we can afford to include the outdoor pools at no additional cost for residents without raising the annual charge. Now I'm pushing my fellow board members to adopt this policy.

• Ensure transparency, accountability, and civility within the Columbia Association Board, and make sure that CA is serving community interests, and not developers or other special interests - I regularly email my newsletter, Board Notes to as many residents as possible as well as sharing it on social media (Facebook and Nextdoor) to keep residents informed. 

• Support seniors aging in place.

• Vote against raising the cap on assessments - I was the only board member who voted to reduce the annual charge.

 You can contact me at  karin4oaklandmills@gmail.com

Why you can trust me...

• I've been a Columbia resident for more than 50 years - I grew up here! I attended Thunder Hill Elementary , Oakland Mills Middle and Oakland Mills High Schools.

• I have a long history of community involvement and advocacy and will continue to stand up to corporate and developer interests when they are at odds with the community and threaten racial, economic, and social justice.

• I worked for CA as a Lifeguard, Pool Manager, Swim Instructor and Swim League Coach, and coached SAC ages 6-14.

• I moved in with my parents who are aging in place, during the pandemic to help them out and we made it a permanent arrangement

• I strongly disapprove of the Howard Hughes corporation and other developer and dark money influence in CA races, as seen in past years with the Rouse Project.

• I've never taken a dollar of corporate, developer, or lobbyist money , and I never will.