External committee to oversee new A-3 Assembly elections next week

The Executive Board hopes to avoid the claims of election fraud and unfair procedures that marred last year's voting. After nearly a year of conflict over last year's elections, the A-3 Assembly -- which represents hourly-wage and support staff workers across the University -- will hold a new vote next Thursday. Last October's Executive Board elections provoked questions of unfair procedures and election fraud, after the sitting board failed to release the election results and an election candidate complained that the ballot did not include several nominees. In an effort to guarantee fair and democratic procedures this year, a faculty committee is organizing and overseeing the nominations and elections. Holding new elections is "really the most sensible and fair thing to do at this point," said Law Professor Howard Lesnick, a member of the committee. With the results of last October's Executive Board elections still unannounced as of last April, the University Council Steering Committee called for Lesnick to act as arbitrator to resolve questions about the legitimacy of the election. Lesnick explained that new elections became necessary once the previous executive board's two-year terms ended last May and arbitration had still not taken place. "The board went out of office before we could get to the arbitration process," he said. Communications Professor Larry Gross, who also sits on the committee, said voting on a new slate of officers provides an opportunity to "conduct fair and democratic elections." Gross added that all A-3 employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement are encouraged to vote. Lesnick emphasized that these elections will be "fair and democratic" as well as heavily publicized to the assembly members. He added that he will notify candidates of the results about one day after the elections. Seven A-3 members will be on the ballot next week, with up to 20 open board positions. Betty Thomas, an executive secretary in the Office of the Vice President for Finance, will be acting elections committee chairperson. Thomas explained that the elected board will decide how to fill the remaining positions following Thursday's elections. "I hope that A-3 employees come out and vote -- this is their way to have a voice and representation throughout the community," she said. Thomas worked with the committee over the summer to guide and assist with the elections process. The committee requested nominations for the Board from A-3 members last June. Other members of the committee include Gross, African American Resource Center Director Jeanne Arnold and Graduate And Professional Student Association President Alex Welte. The A-3 Assembly holds a seat on University Council and also participates in several of the committees involved in restructuring the University. Former School of Social Work administrative assistant Paul Lukasiak, the candidate who accused the board of election fraud last year labeled the new election as "an effort to gloss over what happened last October. "It really legitimizes what happened," he added. "The University Council and Steering committee blew off their chance to oversee fair elections last year." Former A-3 Assembly Chairperson Karen Wheeler declined to comment on the decision to hold new election. Welte, a member of the Steering Committee, said he hopes the vote will yield a more solid A-3 assembly. "The more A-3 members try to make the assembly work for them, the better," Welte said, adding that the elections should be viewed as a natural part of any organization. The election will take place in room 514 of the Mellon Bank building from noon to 2 p.m.