At the risk of stirring up a hornet's nest, who is willing to share their opinions about the candidates for the upcoming USCF Executive board election.

What compensation do these people receive?

That's a good question Nimzovich lol.  I've seen attacks on the Polgar Blog on Bill and I've seen Bill put out attacks on Polgar... That guy from Illinois seems to get good reviews from everyone...

Interesting!

Do you have any sites you recommending reviewing that might augment the infomercials in Chess Life?

Answering Nimzo's second question first, it appears that USCF Executive Board members do not receive any compensation or reimbursement. See the USCF bylaws, especially Article VI. But I have no more detailed knowledge than that.

Bill Goichberg, the current USCF president, is a respected tournament organizer (his outfit is the Continental Chess Association, and runs such major events as the World Open). He is term-limited against being president again, but he is still a candidate for the Board. He's got a page of his picks at http://www.checkmate.us/ , and this served me well as a fairly good starting point for some research.

For me, I've been skeptical of Susan Polgar's motives since I learned about what she did to Anna Hahn in 2003 (see a long Chess Ninja archive posting about that). This, combined with the fact that she's suing the USCF (which, if you ask me, is poor form regardless of her supposed willingness to settle for $1 and an apology) makes me extremely reluctant to vote for the candidates she supports (Hecht, Korenman, and Lugo).

I also decided to cast a vote for Mottershead as a reward for his work in nailing Paul Truong (Polgar's husband) for the "Fake Sam Sloan" incidents (see http://www.craic.com/forensics/uscf_usenet_analysis/USCF_Usenet_Abuse_Report_20071206.pdf). This insane activity almost makes me feel sorry for Sloan, who otherwise seems like a complete nutbag to me.

There are voices on both sides, of course, and I claim no expertise. But it's clear that the survival of our national federation might well be at stake, and it's in the interests of all USCF members to cast a thoughtfully considered ballot.

I received the hit mail from Goichberg in the mail today.

As much as I dislike such campaigning, it worries me that his information carries more than grains of truth that have not been refuted by the Polgar camp.

I cannot believe Sloan got elected in previous election unless it was a protest vote by many who are angry with USCF.

You bring up some very poignant points. Thanks.

IMO there are only 3 people that deserve to be voted in.  To me these are the only candidates that truely have the best intertests of the USCF in mind.

Goichberg

Berry

Haring

Ironically, the article about Anna Hann reminds me of the struggles Polgar dealt with herself when she qualified for the World Championship.  According to The King's Gambit Book, Polgar, Krush, Zatonskih and the highest rated woman player from the April 2004 supplement list was supposed to make the team (which was Shahade).  Goletiani complained and got the USCF and got a loop hole rule where they had the discretion to add international tournaments.  This put her on top.  To settle this controversy... they scheduled the 2004 US Women Championship.... that's when the Chess Life Cover had "UNSTOPPABLE" with her picture after she won and clinched the spot.

Polgar has offered to drop the law suit and have a settlement for one dollar and an apology.  Pride is driving us broke... but Polgar's hubby Truong seems shady... there is undisputed evidence that he was impersonating Sam Slong.

Bill Goichberg has worked tirelessly for US Chess for many decades. To anyone that claims he has gotten rich off these efforts I suggest they look at the car he drives.    I believe if people listened to him several years ago regarding Polgar and voted his slate into office this last set of cluster-effing would have been avoided.

No one has run as many high level high, quality tournaments in the US as Goichberg and his crew.  Sure, they are not perfect and I wish the prize funds were larger and had greater number of actual prize recipients.   

Mike Atkins is an excellent Tournament Director and one of the most affable and even handed people in chess.     His inclusion into the bureaucracy would be a benefit for most players.

While the board positions themself do not recieve direct monetary compensation, there are tremendous benefits to being a board member and depending on the creativity, desire and drive of the person, the perks have more or less value.

For Polgar, it gave direct access to the lucrative cash cow that is US Scholastic Chess.

I voted: Atkins, Goichberg, Mottershead, Haring. Insofar as I am aware, none are remnants of the Polgar-Truong-Sloan fiasco that has left USCF with the poxy Sloan like its very own curse of the albatross.

Ah wel-a-day! what evil looks
      Had I from old and young;
Instead of the Cross the Albatross
      About my neck was hung.

--The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Vote tally from the USCF website:

Executive Board Election Results are in