Candidates sought in 2010 for PEF Reg. 9 coordinator, Executive Board

By SHERRY HALBROOK
The 2010 first quarterly special elections to fill mid-term vacancies will include the office of PEF Region 9 coordinator and at least one seat on the PEF Executive Board. PEF Region 9 includes members who work in Ulster, Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester counties.

Four vacancies on the board were filled in October when, following petitioning, the Special Elections Committee certified just one candidate for each of the four seats. No candidate was certified for a fifth vacancy, and an election is underway for the sixth vacant seat because more than one candidate was certified based on petitioning.

The four certified candidates who were unopposed and were automatically seated are:

• David Porter, Seat 25, which represents certain PEF members at the state Department of Correctional Services;

• Christina Ryan, Seat 172, which represents certain PEF members at the state Office for Technology, and at the NYS Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). Although a constitutional amendment passed at the 2009 PEF convention merges the NYSTAR constituency with that of members at the state Department of Economic Development, the change will not take effect until the next triennial elections in 2012;

• Yvonne Singletary, Seat 360, which represents certain PEF members at the state Office of Mental Health; and

• Yatram Jagroop, Seat 555, which represents certain PEF members at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, NYS Canal Corporation and the NYS Canal Authority.

Balloting is underway in a race between two certified candidates, Brian Pavlock and Sheryl Klewicki, for Seat 155, which represents certain PEF members at the state Office of Real Property Services. Ballots will be counted December 2 by the American Arbitration Association.

Petitioning begins January 6 for Region 9 coordinator and for Board Seat 325, which represents certain PEF members in Region 9 at the Hudson River Psychiatric Center (PC), Mid-Hudson PC, Central NY PC, and the state Office of Mental Health (OMH) Main Office. This is the same seat for which no candidates were certified in the 2009 fourth quarter special elections, nor in the union’s triennial elections held earlier in 2009.

If more than one candidate for Region 9 coordinator or Seat 325 is certified, a special election will be held, with ballots mailed to the appropriate constituencies by the American Arbitration Association February 17 and returnable by March 11.