The United States Chess Federation is in a bad way. Various board members are fighting an all-out war for control of the organization, and expensive lawsuits have been filed. I have read a little about who is suing whom and why, but it is hard to get a neutral account of what is happening. Look at wikipedia to learn more.
Nevertheless, I know exactly why I am voting for the "reform" candidates in the current election to the executive board, namely, Blas Lugo, Mikhail Korenman, and Eric Hecht. These are the people supported by Susan Polgar, the central figure in the current legal battle (whose guilt or innocence is difficult to determine). (I am also voting for Brian Mottershead based on his statement in the current issue of Chess Life.) Here are my reasons:
1. They are committed to genuine reform of the USCF, so that promotion of the game and attraction of new members are the top priority.
2. They have the support not only of Polgar but of eminent players like Alexander Onischuk and Yuri Shulman, whose only plausible stake in this election is the well-being of the organization.
3. The incumbents, especially Bill Goichberg and Jim Berry, have no real accomplishments, and bear *at least* indirect responsibility for the current troubles, which include declining membership, financial waste, dysfunction, and generally low morale throughout the chess community in America. "Throw the bums out" is usually a good rule of thumb for the voter who can't get to the bottom of every issue, but who knows that a new direction is needed.
4. Finally, a very simple reason to vote in the reformers is that it seems to be the best way to end the current legal standoff. If Goichberg and his people are re-elected, the conflict could go on forever and bankrupt the whole USCF. If the reformers win, (ie, Polgar's people), there will no longer be a conflict between Polgar and the USCF and the whole thing should end quickly. It would be nice if someone with more information about the lawsuits could comment on this reading of the situation, but it seems like an obvious solution to me.
I should add that I am by no means a wholehearted supporter of Polgar, despite her many contributions to the chess community worldwide. She seems to give as much energy to promoting herself and her business interests as she does to promoting the game (is there a limit to how many pictures of oneself one can post on one's blog?). More importantly, I am not convinced that her defamation lawsuit filed against the USCF is necessary or productive, and it obviously could cause a lot of damage. In fact, I think she owes the readers of her blog an explanation of her lawsuits and the reasons for them. On balance, however, I find her side of the story more believable than that of Goichberg and his people.
I make no claim to be fully informed about this issue, and in fact I am very new to the USCF myself: just joined in February. I welcome all factual corrections and dissenting opinions, but please be civil.
If you are a member of the USCF, please remember to submit your vote within the next few weeks.
