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Reston Association President Robin Smyers said she had no idea a letter she wrote endorsing three of the 10 candidates in this month's Board of Directors race would cause such a backlash.

"It's been common practice for many years" for sitting board members to endorse their favorites in the race, said Smyers, whose term ends in April and is not seeking re-election. "When I ran, I was endorsed by board members."

Smyers said she is being criticized unfairly for using her office and its benefits to steer the election.

"I never did use my title. It was from my private e-mail address, from my private distribution list," she said of her letter endorsing candidates.

Reston Association bylaws say sitting board members and incumbents can endorse candidates, as long as they do not use their title to do so. That means no signing "president" to a letter to the editor.

Smyers said she steered clear of this, even calling back her endorsement from being published in the Fairfax County Times in mid-March because of concerns voiced by residents and fellow board members.

The letter was leaked, and war broke out between competing factions in Reston.

"The election has become heated and negative. RA board members Robin Smyers and Richard Chew [At-large] have been actively endorsing a slate of candidates," said Amy Justice, co-chair of Save Brown's Chapel advocacy group, which fought last year to protect a 22-acre park from being developed into a $65 million community recreation complex. "This is questionable as a practice. However, the main issue is that as sitting board members they have been actively attacking the other slate of candidates and the organization that endorsed them. This is a documented fact in the form of e-mail messages widely circulated by them."

She said two of the 10 candidates -- Rod Koozmin (At-large) and Guy L. Rando (Lake Anne/Tall Oaks) -- have filed complaints with the Reston Association Election Committee about endorsement practices.

"RA Board members may not endorse or campaign for their own personally selected candidates," said board Vice President Kathleen Driscoll McKee (South Lakes) in an e-mail to residents. "Board interference violates the principles of election fairness and creates an insidious advantage for the favored candidates."

Elections Committee member Dave Edwards said the post-game huddle on this year's election will certainly include discussion on endorsements made by board members.

"It's perfectly authorized under the standards of conduct, but I think we need to tighten up the wording," Edwards said. "I've been hearing complaints, but as long as a person is acting completely as an individual, [it is technically allowed]." He said the ugly tone of this election has detracted from issues facing Reston.

Contention over issues like endorsements may have helped increase voter turnout. Reston voters have been casting votes since March 5. Polls close Friday. As of March 26, 5,388 votes had been cast, bringing voter turnout to about 22 percent so far. Reston Association officials said common voting practice in elections is to cast ballots early or near the end. Election results will be announced April 13.