I think the person(s) who manage some of these communities were appointed by an elected official. That is not the case in The Villages. I understand that the Villages Management including the General Manager was the result of appointments and not related to any election. Take this further at any time a person could be put in charge of all Village business and the residents have no say who that person IS and how they would represent the residents interests.
Thus the need for the POA =
"PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION'