History in the making?

I was thinking about the state of the race(s) this morning when it struck me that this might be the first time in AFM history when all the full-time officers were both 1) running for re-election and 2) facing serious contests. I'd be grateful for confirmation (or otherwise) from those with longer memories than mine.

It's also the first time for a while, if at all, that there's been a formal slate of candidates. There have been informal alliances between candidates in the past, but nothing as ambitious as the "AFM Back Together" effort.

Sometime last year, I was floating some ideas for reforms in the old AFM officers' forum. Ken Shirk, both in his replies on the website and offline, convinced me that what I was proposing wouldn't fly (and likely wouldn't work either), and suggested that setting up a bylaws mechanism to allow candidates to run as slates would be a good alternative. So I put forward a resolution (#74 in your hymnal) towards that end. I hope it passes, but evidently it wasn't as necessary as I thought it would be.

I think the AFM Back Together folks have set a good precedent by running as a formal slate. I hope the rest of us can build on it for the future.

Comments

[MOORE 4 International President]

I suggest slates back when I was running for International President in 1997, it SPOOKED most of the candidates running then, the letters and calls I got back before the 1997 convention said they can't do slates!!!! because it might cost them votes if they are on slate with some one that a delegate won't vote for, I also was the first to suggest the creation of slates in this elections on the AFM.org forums and other blogs in March 2005 I called my proposed slate the "Sonic Labor Party"

AFM Back together took my advice! and good for them.

There are 4 total slates in this election, and this is all good for the life of the AFM no matter how much it pisses off people who are running for the same office I am.

The delegates should know the incumbents have the master phone list of all AFM Delegates which give them an almost unlawful advantage in this election, it is AFM Union Property that those candidates have come into possession of as part of their employment at the AFM, Tom has been campaigning to Delegates on AFM Union property and while on the "CLOCK" as AFM International President.

Via Board meetings and phone calls.

Giving him and Unfair and possible Unlawful advantage in this election.

When this was brought to my attention I sent several requests and demands to the International for the same phone list and asked that every candidate be given this same phone list of delegates so that all candidates may phone bank from the same list Tom Lee is using.

The International REFUSED!
and directed me to use member roster search on AFM.org which does not have the numbers on most of the delegates when I did what they suggested, I reported this fact back to them and demanded the phone list again, they Refused!

It is foul and unfair the conduct of incumbants using the power of their union office to campaign in this election while stopping other candidates from accessing the same information.

It is a tool of the Union Busters that they have learned and are using in this election.

There are some good new people running for IEB men and woman they should not be left out of consideration because they do not have the MONEY to run an election like Tom or access to union property to get a delegates vote.

I say again to all delegates!

DO NOT CHOOSE WHO YOUR GOING TO VOTE FOR AFM OFFICE, UNTIL YOU HAVE MET EACH AND EVERY CANDIDATE AND SHAKEN THEIR HAND AT THE CONVENTION AND GRILLED THEM AND READ ALL OF THE CANDIDATE INFORMATION FIRST.

THIS WILL ENSURE THE BEST PEOPLE GET ELECTED REGARDLESS OF DIRTY TRICKS AND ACCESSING UNFAIR ADVANTAGES USING UNION PROPERTY.

IN THE NEW AFM ALL VOICES WILL BE HEARD IF THE VOTING DELEGATES DO WHAT I REQUEST OF THEM ABOVE.

THIS IS A FIRST STEP.

AND ALSO
IT WILL MAKE SO THAT EACH CANDIDATE WILL TRULY EARN YOUR VOTE.

MAKE ALL OF US SWEAT IT OUT TO THE LAST MOMENT-MYSELF INCLUDED.

LONG LIVE THE MUSICIANS UNION!

[Sam Folio]

Historicly speaking...I recall in '83 when I had the nerve to run for the IEB. President Vic advised against it saying that I should wait for one of the IEB to die and get an appointment then run for election... of course I did not listen and finished 2nd behing Mark... I was approached by 80 year old Max Rosen who told me I took his job...of couse I respectfully pointed out that he should talk to the IEB members that finished 4th and 5th... "they are the ones that took your job ...I finished second..."