Get the Facts

Why This Page Exists

Over the past year, a number of statements and claims have been shared regarding Ron Bomhoff, prior Board actions, and current legal matters.

Some of this information has been incomplete or presented without full context.

You may see anonymous or speculative claims shared online.

I encourage members to rely on verified and complete information rather than secondhand or anonymous sources.

This page is intended to provide a clear, factual overview so members can better understand the key topics.

A Simple Standard

Community decisions should be based on:

Facts
Transparency
Fair process

-not assumptions, selective information, or incomplete summaries.

Accountability and Legal Action

The HOA is not the Board or management - it is the members.

As members, we rely on our leadership to act transparently, follow the law, and apply the same standards to everyone. When that doesn’t happen, there must be a path to accountability.

Legal action over governance issues is not an attack on the community. In some cases, it is simply the remaining option when concerns are not addressed through normal channels. Asking a court to interpret the law and ensure it is being followed is a lawful and appropriate step - not a hostile one.

Framing legitimate concerns as an “attack” avoids the real issue: whether the Association is operating in compliance with its governing documents and applicable law. These are not personal matters - they affect every member of the community.

Courts do not award windfalls. Any claims must be proven, and any damages are tied to specific legal standards and actual conduct. Remedies exist because the law requires accountability - not because someone is trying to “take” something.

There has also been discussion about conflicts of interest. California law, including Davis-Stirling, does not prohibit someone from running for the Board due to involvement in litigation. If elected, I would handle any potential conflict in the standard way - by recusing myself from any Board discussions or decisions directly related to the legal matter.

Through firsthand experience, I understand both how these issues arise and how they can be prevented through clear process, transparency, and accountability.

The real question for members is simple:

Do you want leadership that is transparent, consistent, and accountable to the same rules as everyone else?

I believe in an HOA where members hold leadership accountable - not the other way around - and where governance is guided by fairness, clarity, and respect for the law.

THE LAWSUIT THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED

To be clear, I am not suing Lake of the Pines for millions of dollars, and I was not a party to the initial lawsuit against LOP.

This situation began on August 16, 2023, when my son, Greg Bomhoff ,an Associate Member and part of this community for more than 50 years, raised a health and safety concern with GM Bothelio following a Board meeting. His concern related to the goose population and recent E. coli warnings. The conversation escalated, and both GM Bothelio and Board President DeCarlo became verbally and/or physically aggressive.

The Board subsequently issued a monetary fine, which the Covenants Committee later vacated. The Board then held its own hearing and overruled the Committee’s decision. Greg made clear that reinstating the fine would likely result in legal action, which was also confirmed in a letter from his attorney.

At that point, this entire matter could have ended by simply respecting the Covenants Committee’s decision and not reinstating a $500 fine.

I was not involved in the original lawsuit. However, shortly after Greg filed suit against Bothelio and DeCarlo for assault and battery, I attended an “Evening with the GM” meeting. During a conversation with President DeCarlo, I felt he was becoming increasingly agitated so I turned and walked away. He followed me, grabbed my shoulder, and confronted me. GM Bothelio then grabbed my arm and shoulder on multiple occasions.

I immediately requested an Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) in an effort to resolve the matter without legal action. That request was ignored. Instead, within days, I received notice of a Board hearing regarding potential fines and member restrictions.

At that point, I was added to the lawsuit.

This situation comes down to a simple principle: no one has the right to put their hands on members, and HOAs must follow their own governing documents and California Civil Code.

The Board had an opportunity to avoid this lawsuit at no cost by respecting the Covenants Committee’s decision. Instead, they chose to reinstate the fine and are now using community funds to defend the actions of Bothelio and DeCarlo. To my knowledge, this is the only lawsuit LOP is self-funding; other recent lawsuits have been submitted to insurance.

If elected, I will bring a “Members First” approach, making decisions based on sound business judgment, not personal feelings. In my opinion, this situation, along with several other lawsuits in recent years, could have been avoided.

The 2021 Censure

There has been discussion about a 2021 Board censure involving Ron Bomhoff.

A censure is not a legal finding and is not a form of discipline. It is an internal board action - an expression of opinion at a point in time.

The matter went through a formal process using Association resources, yet the final outcome remained limited to a censure.

The outcome was straightforward:

No removal from the Board
No loss of voting rights
No restrictions as a director
No fines or penalties

Ron continued to serve his elected term.

The outcome reflects that, despite the level of process involved, no disciplinary action or further measures were warranted.

Censures and differences of opinion are a normal part of board governance. Board members often disagree on policy, communication, and how to address issues - those discussions are part of responsible oversight, not misconduct.

Key takeaway:
The 2021 censure was not a disciplinary action and did not result in any penalties or restrictions.

Understanding Public Information

Information about these topics has been shared across various platforms, including online forums and community discussions.

In some cases, that information may:

Lack full context
Combine unrelated issues
Present opinions as facts

Members are encouraged to consider complete and verifiable information when evaluating these matters.

Moving Forward

Ron’s focus remains on:

Transparency
Accountability
Open communication
Serving the best interests of the membership