June 27, 2024 — The members have spoken – President Wayne Spence will continue to lead the union for an unprecedented fourth term, garnering 6,212 votes. Spence has led the union since 2015. The ballots were counted and certified June 26 by the American Arbitration Association in Manhattan.
“I am again humbled and grateful that PEF members saw fit to return me to office for this fourth term and I look forward to continuing our work together,” said President Spence, who has led the union since 2015. “We’ve made great strides in the state workforce, but there is always more to accomplish. I believe that together we must continue to reform the state pension plan to attract and retain workers, clean up toxic work environments at certain state agencies, and address the workplace violence we’re seeing too often at state facilities.”
RELATED: Full election results certified by AAA
During his third term, Spence, a 35-year parole officer at the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, negotiated his fourth contract with the State, securing annual 3 percent across-the-board raises for PEF’s more than 51,000 members; an annual stipend of $400 until the state found a new dental provider, which they quickly did this year; and a $600 Higher Education Differential recognizing the professional, scientific and technical skills of PEF members. All the contracts negotiated during Spence’s terms of office contained no givebacks.
Secretary-Treasurer, Vice Presidents, Trustees
Members also re-elected Joseph Donahue as PEF Secretary-Treasurer. He is a 25-year senior administrative analyst with the state Tax and Finance Department. Donahue defeated opponent Christine Werns with 6,008 votes to 3,127 votes.
The union also has three vice-presidents and the members re-elected Randi DiAntonio, a 28-year Licensed Master Social Worker with the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities, and Darlene Williams, a 42-year Occupational Therapist with the Office of Mental Health; as well as voted in Bruce C. Giddings, an Assistant Electrical Engineer with the Department of Environmental Conservation. The trio defeated candidates Donna Karcz, Angelina Rodriguez, and Gustavo Santos.
Members also voted for three Trustees: Muriel Hardy, a 35-year Social Work Assistant at OPWDD; Kelly Ann Nadeau, a 17-year Associate Accountant at Audit Control; and Radhakrishna Mohan, an Information Technology Specialist at the State Insurance Fund. They defeated Michael Czerniak, Beth Karalak, and Henry Matala.
New officers will be sworn in on Aug. 1, 2024, and will serve a three-year term.
Regional coordinator and Executive Board
Regional Coordinator positions were contested in Regions 4, 8, and 12.
Monica Moore unseated Gina Corona for Region 4 Coordinator, with 270 votes to 253; Danielle Bridger kept her post in Region 8, defeating opponent Roger Gordon with 2,319 votes to 1,237; and Corinne Testa won the Region 12 position with 516 votes to opponent Chijioke Ajoku’s 141.
On the Executive Board, the following members won seats:
- Seat 9: Shari Hunziker
- Seat 12: Hesham El-Meligy
- Seat 49: Catherine Adams
- Seat 65: Janice Anderson-Small
- Seat 70: Vivian Falto-Lequerique
- Seat 77: Carlos Garcia
- Seat 172: George Howard
- Seat 176: Heather Craven
- Seat 180: John Ingram
- Seat 185: Steven Brooks
- Seat 195: Kimberly Jensen
- Seat 217: Kenneth Johnson
- Seat 245: Kevin Jones
- Seat 305: Stephanie Champagne
- Seat 310: Rudy Arias
- Seat 315: Stacy Morey
- Seat 415: Barbara Fahey
- Seat 430: Ross Dorsey
- Seat 440: Robin Matthews
- Seat 445: Scott Staub
- Seat 450: Pamela August
- Seat 455: Germaine Greco
- Seat 460: Karen Tully
- Seat 550: Kathryn Schultz