News from Civil Service Employees Association

For more information contact: Stephen A. Madarasz - 518 257-1270 (o), 518 598-4705 (c)

New Donohue Team to Lead CSEA Starting March 1, 2008

ALBANY, NY (02/14/2008; 1540)(readMedia)-- CSEA President Danny Donohue, along with a new statewide leadership team, will take the oath of office to head New York's leading union for a four year term beginning March 1, 2008. It will be Donohue’s fifth term as president of the 265,000 member CSEA – New York’s leading union.

No challengers to the Donohue Leadership team emerged during the union election nominating period last fall. Ballots were counted in races for other statewide and region CSEA offices this week.

"CSEA has never been better or stronger but the challenges we face as a union have never been greater," Donohue said. "CSEA will mark its 100th anniversary in 2010 and my priority is to make this union the strongest it can be to start our second century.”

Along with Donohue, incumbent Mary E. Sullivan of Herkimer will begin her fifth term in office as executive vice president, providing experience and continuity to the leadership slate. Sullivan previously served as the union’s statewide treasurer and served as chair of the union’s Local Government division. Sullivan is also an International Vice President of CSEA’s international union, AFSCME.

Beginning his first full term as treasurer will be Joe McMullen of Oneonta. McMullen is currently completing the term of office of Maureen Malone of Oneida who retired this past spring. McMullen was elected to fill the vacancy by CSEA’s Board of Directors. He has been a CSEA activist for more than 30 years as an employee at SUNY Oneonta.

Joining the Donohue team for the first time is Secretary Denise Berkley of Brooklyn. Berkley has been also been a CSEA activist for more than 30 years as an employee of the state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities’ (OMRDD) Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Services Office. Berkley will assume the office currently held by Barbara Reeves who will retire when her term of office expires. Reeves served as CSEA statewide secretary since 1994.

As CSEA president, Donohue has helped solidify CSEA's position as New York's leading union by encouraging activism in local, state and national politics while his advocacy of grassroots community networks has enhanced CSEA's presence and effectiveness. Under his leadership, CSEA's expertise in contract negotiations has set national standards. The union negotiates more than 1,100 contracts covering its members in the public and private sectors.

Donohue was first elected president of CSEA in 1994. He previously served as the union's executive vice president and Long Island Region president. Donohue serves as an AFSCME International Vice President and as a vice president of the New York State AFL-CIO.

CSEA officers at all levels of the union are elected by popular vote. Any member in good standing may run for union office provided they garner the requisite petition signatures to qualify for a place on the ballot. All of CSEA's active members are eligible to vote in the union’s elections.

Long Island Region President Nicholas LaMorte of Miller Place, Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio of Staten Island, and Western Region President Flo Tripi of Rochester were also unchallenged for re-election.

In CSEA's Southern Region covering the lower Hudson Valley, William "Billy" Riccaldo was elected region president in a race that was uncontested following the death of incumbent Diane Hewitt who passed away in January. Riccaldo has served as Rockland County Local President and executive vice president of the region.

In the Capital Region, incumbent Kathy Garrison was returned to office for a third term, after turning back a challenge from Michael Geraghty, a CSEA local officer from the Office of Children and Family Services. Garrison is employed by the New York State Department of State. She was first elected region president in 2000.

In the CSEA Central Region, SUNY Potsdam Local President Colleen Wheaton will succeed incumbent region president Virginia "Ginger" Sheffey. Sheffey assumed office following the retirement of longtime region president James Moore last year. Wheaton has long been involved in CSEA activities as a union activist.

The balloting also included races for the union's 122 member statewide board of directors.

The term of office for all of the statewide, region and board positions runs from March 1, 2008 to Feb. 29, 2012.

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