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Depending on your perspective, your homeowner's association is either the best of all worlds… or the worst.

Purchasing your home, for the majority of citizens, is the most expensive and yet rewarding endeavor you will experience in your life. There are many wonderful freedoms we enjoy, however, the opportunity to buy and own your home is powerful and at the core of our American dreams.

Covenants are required by law with new developments and the board of directors consists of members of the development company until a certain percentage of build out is attained. For instance, after 25% build out, 1 of the development board member must step down and be replaced by a citizen living in the development. After 50% 2 citizens are required and after 75% the entire board must be comprised of homeowners.

The automatic membership in a homeowners' association is an incorporated, non-profit organization operating under recorded land agreement through which each land owner is automatically a member. As a member he or she can cast a vote during the meetings.

The major responsibility of the association is to protect your investment and enhance the value of the property owned by the members. Usually a professional management firm is hired and coordinates and supervises the maintenance and financial duties of the development.

Everybody's lawn is manicured. No one's gone to an electric chartreuse and fuchsia color scheme. All garage doors are closed and no cars are in the drive way or street. Fences are exactly the same height, same construction material and color. And most of all no couches on the front porch.

This is the utopian world we have chosen to live in, in covenant controlled developments. These policies protect and maintain the integrity and value of the properties. To many people it's Shangri-La. Heaven and Paradise.

The reality to others is loss of property rights to determine your choice of colors, fencing and a myriad of other esthetic issues. In addition, the home owner is billed monthly for dues that support the association.

When buying your home, the title company is required to supply you with a copy of the covenants that protect the development, which you sign at closing. Unfortunately, most people do not investigate these covenants before purchasing their home.

The bottom line is, we all make choices in where we live and it is extremely important you understand the laws of your association. Consider, when a vacancy appears, running for that board seat. The opportunity for you to participate and enjoy the fellowship of your neighbors will go a long way in you understanding the difficulty in making decisions for your community. This time you invest will be immensely rewarding and give you a better understanding of the bigger picture for your community.

“In a developing community, HOA's can provide amenities to residents (e.g. recreation centers) without negatively impacting the budgets of local governments. As a result of its central role in residents' neighborhoods, the HOA is becoming a significant new player in communities all over the United States. Residents must be active participants in order to maintain the quality, as well as the limits of power and fee collection, of these quasi-governmental bodies.”

During my time on the Castle Rock Town Council, 1996 - 2000, I enjoyed a similar opportunity in serving my community. I demonstrated the qualities of leadership that can make a real difference in the lives of citizens. As your county commissioner, my proven public service record, strong business management background and leadership skills can lead this county.