Howard ‘Howie’ Blumstein
9045 Village View Loop
I’m running for the Club Board because I believe our Community is heading in the wrong direction —with skyrocketing dues and decisions being made without enough Member input.
Here’s what’s happening:
• In the FY26 budget, monthly dues jumped 27%—that’s an increase of $115.08, bringing dues to $540.03 per month.
• That’s a 43% increase from the FY24 dues of $377.40 in just two years.
• These steep increases may force friends and neighbors to move—putting more homes on the market hurting our property values.
As one concerned Member told me: “Assessments are increasing so rapidly that it will erode our property values because prospective buyers won’t be able to afford to live here.”
I’m also concerned by a recent statement in a Villager article: “The Club Board must remove constraints on Club policies and bylaws in order for us to responsibly invest in The Villages.”
Removing these constraints could give the Board a blank check to spend our money without proper oversight – leading to even higher dues in the future.
We need to:
• Control spending and avoid unnecessary costs
• Maintain our community and enhance lifestyle responsibly
• Make decisions with Member input
• Protect our home values and affordability
I bring an MBA in Finance and a strong financial background. If elected I will be a voice for the Villagers —focused on smart budgeting,
transparency, and protecting what makes our community great.
“HOWIE”—for Fiscal Responsibility and Member -First Leadership
Question 1: What are the most important issues for the Club Board to consider and how are you prepared to handle them?
Howie Blumstein answer to Question #1
Out-of-control dues increases.
The Board recently approved a staggering 27% hike in FY26 Club Dues—an increase of $115.08 per month bringing dues to $540.03. That’s a 43% jump from the FY24 dues of $377.40 in just two years. This kind of unchecked growth is unsustainable and threatens the very fabric of our community.
I will fight to reverse this trend. I will scrutinize every budget, cut waste, challenge unnecessary spending, and demand accountability. Our goal must be to preserve and enhance the lifestyle we love—but with financial discipline, not bloated budgets.
I’m deeply concerned that this FY26 budget will push longtime residents—our friends and neighbors—out of the community they helped build, simply because they could no longer afford it.
I hold and MBA in Finance and bring a proven record of financial leadership. If elected, I will be a relentless advocate for Villagers—committed to smart budgeting, real transparency, and putting Members first.
Vote HOWIE—for Fiscal Responsibility and Member-First Leadership.
Mira Dytko
8402 Chenin Blanc Lane
My husband Tom and I moved to The Villages eight years ago.
I was born in Ukraine and earned an M.S. in Geophysics and a Ph.D in Stratigraphy and Paleontology at the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Lviv.
In 1991, we moved to Thunder Bay, Canada. I was a member of the Ukrainian Canadian Coordinating Counsel. Also, due to my Geological background, I was invited to speak at Thunder Bay City council about the danger of nuclear waste disposal in the Canadian Shield.
In Canada, I worked as a scientist, a project manager, and managed a staff of 20.
In California, I worked as a lab researcher at the USGS. Later, I transitioned from academic writing to technical writing. I worked for several companies including, the Boeing company, Sanmina SCI, ByteDance (Tik Tok), Google, and Hatachi.
Here at The Villages, I have participated in many activities including pickleball, tennis, yoga, U-Jam dancing, biking, and hiking.
If elected, I would like to promote and expand existing club activities, increase visibility, and motivate participation through innovation. Encourage fresh ideas and foster partnerships with clubs and its members.
Due to my unique background, life, and work experiences, I believe I will be a valuable asset to the board.
I appreciate your support in this new endeavor.
Question 1: What are the most important issues for the Club Board to consider and how are you prepared to handle them?
Mira Dytko answer to Question #1
The Club Board reviewed the 2026 fiscal year budget. It has been recommended an increase in HOA fees for current operations and to meet our strategic goals.
How am I prepared to handle them?
Recommendations:
• Better financial investments, according to our capital bank statement, we only earn 4.27% per year
• Cut expenses, our labor expenses are high
• Yearly performance review of each employee (166 total headcount)
• Increase other revenues by active member engagement and participation
Andrew ‘Andy’ Altman
7119 Via Portada
My wife Christy and I moved to the Villages about 6 years ago from The Woodlands Country Club in Falmouth, Maine. After 17 years of living and raising our three children in Monte Sereno, we went to Maine for a career opportunity. Upon retirement, in the fall of 2018, we wanted to escape another brutal New England winter and get back home to CA to be close to our children and year-round golf.
Since becoming a Villager, I have been an active golfer, bocce player, RV Club member and participant in the Senior Academy. I currently serve on the Club Board as Treasurer. I recently concluded a 4-year term as President of Congregation Shir Hadash, in Los Gatos.
I was raised in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and received my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biochemistry from UC San Diego, and my MBA from Stanford.
Professionally, I provided the tools and resources needed to advance life science research. I began as a sales rep and progressed to VP/General Manager roles with Varian, Thermo-Fisher and IDEXX. All of those roles had global responsibility. The hallmarks of my success have been enhancing the customer experience while driving operational efficiency.
My focus as a Director is to enhance the Villager experience. We need to find ways to make our community better while controlling costs. Doing so will make our lives richer and increase the value of our properties.
Question 1: What are the most important issues for the Club Board to consider and how are you prepared to handle them?
Andrew Altman answer to Question #1
• Aging Infrastructure
• Villager Experience
Addressing our aging infrastructure and improving the Villiger experience are the two biggest challenges I see. Our Club facilities were designed to support a Senior’s lifestyle in the 1960s. Our generation is more active, and, as such, desires facilities to support that lifestyle. Doing so will increase our enjoyment, improve our home values and ensure the wellbeing of our community. Some elements like paint and carpet are more obvious than the unseen water, electrical and sewer systems that run under our homes and streets. Many of these have gone without improvement since their construction. The board must exercise operational efficiency to prioritize projects and constrain costs.
Improving the Villager Experience was the primary reason I ran for the board. We have made remarkable progress. Our Food and Beverage services have markedly improved since Chef John joined our team and shared his vision for the dining experience. Better integration between our recreation and food and beverage teams is another opportunity. Many of our clubs use outside food vendors to control costs. Imagine golf, tennis, pickleball and bocce events supported by our Villages F&B team at competitive price points. These improved experiences don’t have to cost more. They just need to become a priority for our management team.
