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Seafarers Approve Constitutional Amendments
Committee Announces Election Results;
Michael Sacco Is Reelected President
February 2005

The SIU’s tallying committee recently released its tabulation of the ballots cast by union members in the voting for national officers of the Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU as well as two constitutional amendments. Voting took place Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, 2004. Composed of 20 Seafarers (two members elected from each of the SIU’s 10 constitutional halls), the rank-and-file committee certified the reelection of Michael Sacco as president of the SIU; reelection of John Fay as the union’s executive vice president; reelection of Augie Tellez as vice president of contracts and contract enforcement; and reelection of David Heindel as secretary-treasurer. The tallying committee’s report will be submitted for approval by the membership at union meetings next month (March). The committee reported that each of the two proposed constitutional amendments was approved by overwhelming majorities. The amendments concerned eligibility requirements for running for union office, and the election of the credentials committee. Similarly, neither of the two contested races for office was close. The committee reported the election of the following officers, who will serve four-year terms (2005-2008): Michael Sacco, president; John Fay, executive vice president; David Heindel, secretary-treasurer; Augie Tellez, contracts and contract enforcement vice president; Joseph Soresi, Atlantic Coast vice president; Dean Corgey, Gulf Coast vice president; Nick Marrone, West Coast vice president; Thomas Orzechowski, Southern Region, Great Lakes and inland waters vice president; Kermett Mangram, Government Services and fishing industries vice president; Rene Lioeanjie, vice president at large; Charles Stewart, vice president at large; George Tricker, assistant vice president in charge of contracts and contract enforcement; Nick Celona, assistant vice president in charge of the Atlantic Coast; Ambrose Cucinotta, assistant vice president in charge of the Gulf Coast; Don Anderson, assistant vice president in charge of the West Coast; James McGee, assistant vice president in charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and inland waters; Chester Wheeler, assistant vice president in charge of Government Services and fishing industries; Edward “Edd” Morris, Piney Point port agent; Robert Selzer, New York port agent; Joseph Mieluchowski, Philadelphia port agent; Georg Kenny, Baltimore port agent; Ed Kelly, Mobile port agent; Steve Judd, New Orleans port agent; Tony McQuay, Houston port agent; Vince Coss, San Francisco port agent; Becky Sleeper, St. Louis port agent; Don Thornton, Algonac port agent. The committee met during the week of Jan. 3 at the union’s headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. to receive the ballots from the bank where they were kept, count the votes in the contested races and for the amendments, and determine the status of void or challenged ballots. (In accordance with Article XIII of the union’s constitution, unopposed candidates were considered elected to their respective positions once nominations closed and the membership approved the report of the credentials committee, which took place last fall.) In concluding the report, the committee wrote, “All of the members of the Committee wish to express their deep appreciation for the cooperation and assistance given to us by the Union’s legal department and its technical and clerical staff. Finally, the members of the Union Tallying Committee wish to congratulate the elected officers and jobholders. We extend our best wishes for the next four years. We hope that you will carry on the tradition of our Union and advance the strength of the maritime industry.” The committee elected as chairman Recertified Bosun John Cain from the port of Houston. Cain said he was genuinely impressed with the committee’s diligence. “Everyone worked very hard throughout the week and no one complained, despite some long hours,” he stated. Also serving on the committee were Paul Weil and Donald Graves from Piney Point, James Greenwood and James Bening from Algonac, Ed Tully and Dawn Williams from Baltimore, Cain and Eddie Hall from Houston, and Terry Smith and Marshall Turner from Mobile. Rounding out the committee were Ernest Hoitt and David Merida from New Orleans, Charles Welsh and Terry Mouton from New York, John Wozunk and Pat Farley from Philadelphia, Louella Sproul and Roger Reinke from San Francisco, and Eric Hurt and Michael Gallagher from St. Louis.