Leadership and Integrity
What Judgment Looks Like When It Matters
October 8, 2025
A board member running for re-election at 175 E Delaware Pl HOA admits to saying he wanted to “pull out a gun and shoot me” my writing made him so angry. Board president Scott Timmerman was informed, says nothing, then turns around and endorses him in the current election. Leadership isn’t about rules or process, it’s about integrity and judgement, and this election will tell us if our community still values it.
Brought to you by Drew McManus, your neighbor in 7908.
Let’s talk about judgment. Not opinion. Not preference. Judgment: the quiet measure of who we are when no one’s watching.
On October 20, 2024, I wrote to Board President Scott Timmerman that board member Edward van Horn had told two of our neighbors my articles made him so angry he wanted to “pull out a gun and shoot me.”
When I asked Mr. van Horn directly, he didn’t deny it. He admitted it. Not allegedly. Not supposedly. He said the words.
I didn’t ask President Timmerman for a favor. I asked him to do his job: investigate, take action, and protect this community. His only question? “Who is the neighbor that you reference below?”
Not “Are you safe?”
Not “We’ll address this immediately.”
Just the names of the neighbors.
Even though I provided the names right away, he remained silent for nearly a week. It wasn’t until I followed up on October 28, 2024, asking for an update that he responded: “We have a process for submitting complaints. If you wish to refer this to Rules Violation, please contact Management.”
Is that what you consider leadership?
Drew McManus, Oct 20, 2024
Dear Mr. Timmerman,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding a serious incident involving Mr. Edward van Horn, a current HOA board member. Mr. van Horn recently made a threatening statement to a neighbor, expressing that my articles about the HOA’s governance make him so angry that he wanted to “pull out a gun and shoot me.”
When confronted by my spouse after the October board meeting, Mr. van Horn admitted to making the statement and attempted to justify it as a joke. However, threats of violence, whether intended as a joke or not, are unacceptable and create an unsafe and hostile environment for all members of our community. Such remarks must not be dismissed lightly, especially in this day and age, given the potential harm they pose.
While I recognize that the HOA bylaws limit the board’s ability to remove Mr. van Horn directly, I believe it is imperative that the board take the most stringent punitive actions available to hold him accountable.
I recommend the following steps be taken immediately:
- Investigation: Conduct a thorough investigation into this incident. This should include interviews with the neighbor who heard the statement and any other relevant witnesses.
- Censure: Publicly censure Mr. van Horn, formally condemning his actions and demonstrating that such behavior is not tolerated.
- Mandatory Training: Require Mr. van Horn to undergo training on appropriate conduct, conflict resolution, and harassment prevention to ensure future behavior aligns with community standards.
- Suspension: Pending the completion of the above investigation and appropriate actions, suspend Mr. van Horn from all board duties and responsibilities, including committee participation and any role in board discussions, for the remainder of his current term.
- Referral to the Rules Violation Committee: Pending the completion of the above investigation and appropriate actions, refer this matter to the Rules Violation Committee for review and action. The Committee must investigate the incident further, determine if Mr. van Horn violated any HOA rules or regulations, and recommend additional penalties or disciplinary measures.
- Adopt a Formal Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy: Implement a formal code of conduct and ethics policy for all board members, with clear guidelines on addressing threats, harassment, and any form of intimidation.
- Community Communication: Notify the HOA membership of the incident and outline the actions being taken. Transparency is essential in restoring trust and ensuring all members feel safe within the community.
This threat must be taken seriously, and decisive action is necessary to protect the safety and well-being of our community. Although removal may not be an immediate option, the board has a responsibility to take every possible measure to hold Mr. van Horn accountable and ensure that such behavior is never repeated while also setting a clear standard of protecting the safety of all community members, regardless of their positions or opinions on matters of governance.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response and the actions you and the board will take to address this situation.
Scott Timmerman, Oct 22, 2024
Who is the neighbor that you reference below?
Drew McManus, Oct 22, 2024
Hi Scott,
[name redacted] and [name redacted]
Drew McManus, Oct 28, 2024
Dear Scott,
It has been one week since I brought to your attention the serious issue involving Mr. van Horn’s threatening comment, in which he admitted, when asked, that he indeed made the statement. This matter deserves a focus on appropriate actions to address and mitigate the impact of such statements on our community’s safety and trust with the actions detailed in my original email.
To date, the only question you’ve posed has been regarding the neighbors who conveyed Mr. van Horn’s statement, despite the fact that he has already confirmed his own words. It’s essential to underscore that this situation goes beyond identifying who first reported the incident, it is about addressing a board member’s public, violent remark.
Given the gravity of this situation, immediate action is essential. Delaying action or shifting focus away from addressing the threat sends a signal that violent comments are tolerable. I urge you to act swiftly on the recommended steps in my original email, including a formal censure, investigation, and suspension, as each day without resolution weakens the community’s confidence in the board’s commitment to safety and accountability.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to hearing how the board plans to proceed in ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all members.
Scott Timmerman, Oct 28, 2024
We have a process for submitting complaints. If you wish to refer this to Rules Violation, please contact Management.
Drew McManus, Oct 28, 2024
Dear Scott,
I note with disappointment that your reply provides no indication of board-level action in response to Mr. van Horn’s threatening statement. By directing me to file a complaint through Management, it appears you are choosing not to address this matter as an issue impacting board conduct and member safety, despite Mr. van Horn’s own confirmation of his statement.
The statement, which Mr. van Horn admitted making in response to HOA governance issues and board actions, is fundamentally a board issue; his position as a board member makes this statement directly relevant to the integrity, safety, and accountability expected within the board. Its handling requires attention at the board level to uphold a safe and respectful environment within our community. Such behavior can erode trust and create a hostile environment, undermining the Board’s primary responsibility to maintain a harmonious community.
I am deeply concerned that your approach, redirecting rather than directly addressing this issue, signals that threatening language from a sitting board member will be ignored by the board itself. This sets a troubling precedent, implying that such behavior is acceptable and unworthy of accountability. Additionally, your response lacks any expression of concern for my safety or well-being, nor does it acknowledge the severity of Mr. van Horn’s statement. This further underscores the need for immediate and decisive action from the Board.
For clarity, should I understand from your response that you, as board president, do not intend to engage with this issue further or discuss its ramifications at the board level?
I look forward to your confirmation.
Scott Timmerman, Oct 28, 2024
I have informed you of the process that all Rules Violation complaints are handled through. They go through the Rules Violation committee before going to the Board.
As a reminder, all HOA committees are advisory. Accordingly, the Rules Violation committee provides recommendations to the Board. The Board makes final decisions, so it is incorrect to suggest that the Board would not be addressing this matter.
Drew McManus, Oct 28, 2024
Dear Scott,
Thank you for your reply, but as you are aware the Rules Violation Committee, as an advisory body, is mandated with addressing infractions by residents, not issues involving the conduct of board members themselves. The committee’s scope does not encompass actions such as censure, suspension, mandatory training, or communicating directly with the community regarding board members’ conduct.
Given that this situation involves a serious concern regarding a board member’s behavior, it falls outside the committee’s advisory scope and requires a direct approach. As board president, you are the only one with the authority and responsibility to initiate a process that addresses board members’ conduct with appropriate actions and outcomes, such as those detailed in my initial message.
You have a responsibility to exercise this authority to protect the community’s welfare and uphold our association’s standards, as your decision to refrain from action and the lack of acknowledgment of the comment’s nature leave this serious issue unresolved. What steps do you plan to take to address this matter?
Fast forward to our current board election and Timmerman told owners everything they need to know: he continues to endorse Edward van Horn for re-election knowing what he does.
I asked him to explain that decision. He read the email. And he chose silence.
Drew McManus, Oct 6, 2025
Dear Scott,
I was surprised to learn that you are endorsing Edward van Horn for re-election. As you’ll recall, on October 28, 2024, I informed you that Mr. van Horn admitted to saying that my articles about the board made him so angry he wanted to “pull out a gun and shoot me.”
In light of the heightened awareness across the country about threats or acts of violence of this nature, a statement like that carries serious weight. When such language comes from a sitting board member, it reflects on the board’s standards for conduct and safety.
Given the seriousness of that comment and your prior awareness of it, I’m trying to understand how you reconciled an endorsement with the board’s responsibility to maintain a safe and respectful environment for owners.
How are you comfortable standing behind a candidate who made such a statement about another resident?
I would appreciate your clarification on how you arrived at that decision.
Sincerely,
Drew McManus
Unit 7908
So we’re left with what we know: Scott Timmerman believes a board member who admits to threatening violence against another owner deserves his endorsement. That’s not speculation, that’s record.
This isn’t about politics. It’s about principle. It’s about whether judgment and integrity still have a place in the way we govern our shared home.
Because judgment matters. Especially when it’s tested.
The Good News Is You Can Still Take Action
If you previously voted for Edward van Horn or any of the incumbent candidates endorsed by Scott Timmerman, know this: your choice isn’t set in stone.
You can request a new ballot from Jeremiah Querubin, Condo CPA, Election Judge, at 630-832-2222 x125 or jr@condocpa.com. They must count your new ballot.
The decision is yours, and your voice matters in shaping the board’s future.
