PEF top officers get new 3-year terms

PEF top officers get new 3-year terms
By SHERRY HALBROOK
Ken Brynien and Arlea Igoe will remain as the two top officers of PEF for another three-year term that begins in August.

Their entire Keeping Members 1st slate was unopposed at the statewide level. Since no opposition candidates were certified by the PEF Elections Committee following its review of nominating petitions, no balloting is necessary for those offices.

They include: Brynien, president; Igoe, secretary-treasurer; Pat Baker, Tom Comanzo and Joe Fox, vice presidents; and Olubiyi Sehindemi, Adam Sumlin and Gail Noble, trustees. Incumbent Trustees Bob Reynolds and Julio Munoz did not seek re-election.

“We are deeply moved by this demonstration of our members’ trust, confidence and unity of purpose at a time when our members are facing serious threats to their livelihoods, their pensions and their jobs,” Brynien said. “We will do everything possible to lead this union forward responsibly and effectively in the face of these and future challenges. It is a privilege and a responsibility we embrace.”

PEF regions
The Keeping Members 1st ticket also swept eight of the 12 PEF regional coordinator positions. They are:
John Prince, Region 3;
Don Kehoskie, Region 4;
Mary Twitchell, Region 5;
Tom Donahue, Region 7;
Bill Wurster, Region 8;
Vernetta Chesimard, Region 10;
Jemma Marie-Hanson, Region 11; and
Dee Dodson, Region 12.

Two of the regional coordinator positions went to independent candidates and the remaining two positions will require balloting. Independents Kevin Hintz and Neila Cardus were unopposed for regions 1 and 9, respectively.

Elections will be held between challenger Bonnie Wood and incumbent Dan Connors for Region 2 coordinator, and between challenger Kevin Conley and incumbent Bob Varano for Region 6 coordinator.

PEF Executive Board
In addition, 42 seats on the PEF Executive Board will be filled by Keeping Members 1st candidates against whom no opposing candidates were certified. They include:
Seat 9, Mike Blue;
Seat 35, Jim Gonyo;
Seat 40, Mike Sicko;
Seat 52 Mary LaVere;
Seat 55, Jeff Janiszewski;
Seat 85, June Edwards;
Seat 95, Peter Banks;
Seat 165, Jim Blake;
Seat 185, Ken Ferro;
Seat 187, Bob Mahoney;
Seat 190, Adel Fahim;
Seat 195, Don Reinhard;
Seat 197, Anna Schrom;
Seat 200, Richard Dillard;
Seat 202, Carolyn Willson;
Seat 230, Heather Gaeta;
Seat 265, Dave Chudy;
Seat 280, Karen Spotford;
Seat 290, Jim Moffitt;
Seat 305, Ed Snow;
Seat 315, Marie-Carmelle Souffrant;

Another 46 independent candidates for the Executive Board also were certified to be seated as unopposed. They are:
Seat 1, Ron Brown;
Seat 5, Lyndon Jones;
Seat 7, Craig Speers;
Seat 15, Linda Sano;
Seat 20, Kevin Kallin;
Seat 45, Anthony Pace;
Seat 50, Joe Greenfield;
Seat 70, Bill Sachs;
Seat 75, Sue Kent;
Seat 77, Carlos Garcia;
Seat 90, Christine Kleinegger;
Seat 80, Don Morgenstern;
Seat 81, Gale Baptiste-Graham;
Seat 100, David Emig;
Seat 101, Jim Hassett;
Seat 102, Doug Begent;
Seat 105, George Stadnik;
Seat 110, Jim Kersten;
Seat 120, Wayne Bayer;
Seat 130, Wes Bartlett;
Seat 152, Wayne Spence;
Seat 160, Edward Diaz;
Seat 170, Bellew McManus;

Elections will be held for 25 more board seats, each contested by two or more certified candidates.

Balloting in June
All PEF members will find a special 2009 PEF Election Guide as a supplement in this issue of The Communicator. The supplement, which is not provided in copies of The Communicator being mailed to non-members, details the candidates and the races. Members are encouraged to thoroughly review those candidate statements and other information in the election guide before completing their ballots.

However, anyone will be able to access the election guide, which will be posted with The Communicator on the PEF Web site at www.pef.org.

Only members in regions 2 and 6, and members whose Executive Board representation are contested will receive ballots. The ballots will be mailed June 1 by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and must be completed and returned to AAA in New York City by 5 p.m. June 22 for counting June 23. The results of those elections will be reported in the July-August issue of The Communicator, and the new officers and board members will all take office in August.