M.E.B.A. Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (AFL-CIO) Special Election Issue 2020 2020 M.E.B. A. Election The Candidates Speak M.E.B.A. Decision 2020 As essential workers, M .E .B .A . members and applicants have arranged alphabetically by office in the order they will appear on been keeping the watch these past months and performing their the ballot . hard work as they always do – in peace, war and pandemic . While This Special Election edition of the Marine Officeris offered every navigating unusual challenges and dangers during these uncertain M .E .B .A . election year to better inform voting members about the times, M .E .B .A . is keeping the supply chain strong and continues to qualifications of candidates vying for office . deliver the goods . So too, have we found a way to keep the M .E .B .A . election on track, taking advantage of technology and melding Candidates were invited to submit their photo and a statement determination with practicality . More business is being performed promoting their candidacy - limited to 400 words - to assist members remotely and membership meetings were temporarily shifted to in making a more informed decision . Statements appearing in this an online format . Operations may be masked in a different guise issue are unedited – keeping original wording intact - even if there because of the health crisis, but the important work of the Union is are grammatical and spelling mistakes . still getting done . The M .E .B .A . continues to fulfill its election-year This issue presents important information related to the 2020 By-Laws and Constitutional requirements that were most likely M .E .B .A . election with the lowdown on how to fully participate in originally written without taking a pandemic into account . this important democratic process . This past July, a rank-and-file Credentials Committee accomplished Because of the nature of our industry, M .E .B .A . voters will have their duties utilizing a hybrid format . Two Committee members just over three months to cast their votes following the mailing of worked from Headquarters and two others attended the meeting ballots on September 1st . The District’s election process concludes by the Zoom online conferencing platform, as they performed their on December 7, 2020 when an Impartial Administrator, assisted by qualification review of nominees for M .E .B .A . offices and jobs . an elected rank-and-file tallying committee, collects and counts the Their report appears in this issue followed by candidate statements ballots followed by an official report . Table of Contents: Report of the Credentials Committee . 1-2 Candidates for President . 3 Candidates for Secretary-Treasurer . 4 Candidates for Atlantic Coast Vice President, Branch Agent of New York (New Jersey) . 5 Candidates for Gulf Coast Vice President, Branch Agent of Houston . 6-7 Candidates for Executive Vice-President, Branch Agent of San Francisco (Oakland) . 8 Candidates for Branch Agent of Los Angeles . 9 Candidates for Branch Agent of Norfolk . 10-11 Candidates for Branch Agent of Seattle . 12 Candidates for Branch Agent of Tampa . 13-14 Candidates for Patrolman of New York (New Jersey) . 14-15 Candidates for Patrolman of San Francisco (Oakland) . 15-16 Candidates for Patrolman of Los Angeles . 16 Candidates for Patrolman of Seattle . 17 Candidates for Delegates to the National M .E .B .A . Convention . 18-22 Additional Election Information . 23-25 Marine Officer The Marine Officer (ISSN No. POSTMASTER: The M.E.B.A. is the nation’s oldest and finest maritime labor 10759069) is published by District Send address changes to the union, established in 1875. We represent a large and diverse No. 1-PCD, Marine Engineers’ Marine Officer mix of engineers and deck officers, experienced and skilled in Beneficial Association (AFL-CIO). 444 N. Capitol Street, NW, Suite 800 all aspects of the maritime workforce. Our marine officers crew Tel: (202) 638-5355 Washington, DC 20001-1570 the most technologically advanced ships in the U.S.-flag fleet, Fax: (202) 638-5369 Visit the M.E.B.A. website at including tankers, Great Lakes vessels, cruise and container ships. Marco Cannistraro www.mebaunion.org We sail aboard Government-contracted ships of the U.S. Navy’s Special Projects & Military Sealift Command and the Maritime Administration’s Communications Ready Reserve Force, on tugs and ferry fleets around the country, (202) 257-2825 LNG vessels and in various capacities in the shoreside industries. [email protected] In times of military contingency, our members sail into war zones to deliver critical defense cargo to our fighting forces. M.E.B.A.’s expertise and proven track record of readiness, safety, and loyalty in answering America’s call to action in times of both Follow us on meba1875 • @mebaunion • meba_union peace and war is unrivaled in the world. 2020 M.E.B.A., District No. 1-PCD Report of Credentials Committee July 15, 2020 1. We the Credentials Committee, elected by the Nominations for the Office of the President of District No. 1: membership pursuant to Article 10, Section 2(a) of the (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate & National District No . 1-PCD, M .E .B .A . (AFL-CIO) By-Laws, President) have examined the nominations for all District No . 1 officers and jobs which were received at District No . 1 Marshall Ainley . .. Qualified Headquarters, 444 North Capitol Street, N .W ., Suite Adam Vokac . Qualified 800, Washington D .C . 20001 or by email during the nomination period . Nominations for the Office of Secretary-Treasurer of District No. 1: (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) 2. The Credentials Committee examined all mailed and emailed nominations . Roland “Rex” Rexha . Qualified 3. All nominations were submitted to the Credentials Christian Yuhas . Disqualified Committee in accordance with Article 10, Section 1 (a-e) of the District No . 1-PCD, M .E .B .A . (AFL-CIO) Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of New York By-Laws . (Atlantic Coast V.P.): 4. The Credentials Committee accepted all timely (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) nominations regardless of the method of delivery . Jason Callahan . Qualified Besides mailed nomination packets, the By-Laws also permits nominations submitted by courier, email or Michael B . Kovach . Qualified delivery in person . Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of Houston 5. All nomination letters listed were received in a timely (Gulf Coast V.P.): (Ex-Officio National Convention manner at Headquarters as required by Article 10, Delegate) Section 1(e) of the District No . 1-PCD, M .E .B .A . (AFL-CIO) ByLaws . Jeff Frobenius . .. Qualified Lawrence Holbert . Qualified 6. The dues of all but one nominee were found to be Phillip Sistrunk . Qualified current through the 3rd Quarter (September 30, 2020) Adam Smith . Qualified at the time of nomination, in accordance with Article 9, Section 3 and Article 20, Section 8 of the District No . 1-PCD, M .E .B .A . (AFL-CIO) By-Laws . Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of San Francisco (Executive V.P.): 7. The membership status of all nominees was checked (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) and all were determined to have been a “member of the District for one (1) year immediately preceding the date Claudia Cimini . Qualified of the closing of the nominations” as required by Article Jameson D . Smith . .. Qualified 10, Section 8(a) of the National M .E .B .A . Constitution . 8. All disqualified nominees were notified of the reasons Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of Los for their disqualification, and their right, if any, to Angeles: appear before the Committee to appeal the decision or (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) appeal to the membership, as required by Article 10, Russell Bellenfant . Qualified Section 2(c) of the District No . 1-PCD M .E .B .A . (AFL- CIO) By-Laws . Rich Doherty . Qualified 9. The Committee makes the following findings Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of Norfolk: concerning all nominations received: (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) Tom Eastwood . Qualified Jack S . Menendez . Qualified Craig Moran* . Qualified Eugene Smith . Qualified * Voluntarily withdrew following the issuance of the Credentials Committee Report . His name will not appear on the ballot . Marine Officer 1 Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of Seattle: Mark S . Gallagher . Qualified (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) Andrew Martin . Qualified Dan Massoni . Qualified Jeff Duncan . Qualified John McElhone . Qualified Jason Flesner . Disqualified Nico Sermoneta . Qualified Mark Lund . Qualified Tom Stenquist . Qualified Nominations for the Position of Branch Agent of Tampa: Serena Webber-Bey . Qualified (Ex-Officio National Convention Delegate) 10. The campaign statements submitted by the nominees were reviewed and will be limitedto 400 words in accordance Nicole Greenway . Qualified with the M .E .B .A . Election Notices issued as All Ports Michael Martykan . Qualified Bulletins on May 18, 2020 and posted on the M .E .B .A . Salvatore “Torey” Zingales Jr . Qualified website . 11. All disqualified members failed to meet Article Ten Section Nominations for the Position of Patrolman in the Port 1(c) 5 [Regarding sufficientemployment time] or Article of New York: Ten Section 8 of the M .E .B .A . Constitution [Regarding eligibility for office in Districts] . Julianne Cona . Qualified Nico Sermoneta . Qualified 12. The Committee wishes to thank the staff at Headquarters for outstanding support andcooperation . Nominations for the Position of Patrolman in the Port of San Francisco: Recommendations from the Committee: Max Alper . Qualified 1. That candidates include a Plans-generated statement of Jarrod Costopulos . Qualified days of covered employment in addition to discharges, pay stubs and/or vacation stubs . Interpretation of hours Nominations for the Position of Patrolman in the Port of worked or other accounting procedures from specific Los Angeles: companies makes it difficult to ensure that days of covered employment requirements are met .