I am writing with an update on the PBA executive board elections. Today, the PBA Tellers' Committee heard appeals from two prospective candidates whose nominating petitions were previously rejected by the Committee at our May 10th, 2023, meeting in accordance with the PBA Constitution & By-Laws ("the By-Laws").
The petition nominating Police Officer Julio Gonzalez, TD-12, for the office of Citywide Trustee was rejected by a unanimous vote at the May 10th, 2023, meeting of the Tellers' Committee because it did not bear the required 20 valid delegate signatures. The petition was submitted with 22 signatures. Two signatures were found to be duplicates. One signature was by an alternate delegate who is not eligible to sign nominating petitions. A fourth signature was invalidated because a delegate submitted a written request to the Tellers' Committee to remove her signature from the petition.
Upon hearing Police Officer Gonzalez's appeal, the Tellers' Committee voted unanimously to uphold our previous decision and reject the nominating petition.
The petition nominating Police Officer Franklin Valdez, TD-20, for the office of Transit Trustee was rejected by a unanimous vote at the May 10th, 2023, meeting of the Tellers' Committee because we found that Police Officer Valdez did not meet the criteria for office set forth in the By-Laws. The By-Laws require that all candidates attended not less than 10 Regular Meetings in the year prior to the nomination. The Tellers' Committee found that Police Officer Valdez did not attend the Regular May 2022 Meeting, which he was required to attend in order to meet the By-Laws criteria.
Upon hearing Police Officer Valdez's appeal, the Tellers' Committee voted by a margin of 15 to 4 to uphold our previous decision and reject the nominating petition.
Based on these votes, there is no change to the previously announced list of certified candidates. The contested election for Transit Financial Secretary will proceed as previously scheduled: ballots will be mailed out to Transit members' home addresses by the American Arbitration Association on Friday, May 19th, 2023. Completed ballots must be received by the American Arbitration Association by 0900 hours on Friday, June 9th, 2023, in order to be counted. Instructions for completing and returning ballots will be included in each Transit members' ballot package.
Fraternally,
Edgar E. Duncan
Chairman, PBA Tellers’ Committee