IN RE: LUCIO REYES, Protestor.
Protest Decision 2010 ESD 14
Issued: August 4, 2010
OES Case Nos. P-020-073010-FW
Lucio Reyes, principal officer of Local Union 601 and candidate for delegate and for International office, filed a pre-election protest pursuant to Article XIII, Section 2(b) of the Rules for the 2010-2011 IBT International Union Delegate and Officer Election ("Rules"). The protest alleged that Maria Ashley Alvarado, candidate for delegate on a slate opposing Lucio Reyes, distributed a Spanish-language campaign flyer that asserts that "Lucio does not want the membership to learn about the delegates election this year." The protestor contends that the statement is a "distortion and possible fraud regarding the truth."
The Election Supervisor does not regulate the content of campaign material. Yolland, P660 (April 3, 1996). The fact that campaign statements are false or even defamatory does not remove them from the protection of the Rules. Braxton, P304 (May 21, 1991); Hoffa 2006, 2005 ESD 25 (November 8, 2005); Jackson & Trupiano, 2006 ESD 24 (April 17, 2006); and Kenny, 2006 ESD 190 (May 17, 2006).
Accordingly, we DENY this protest.
Any interested party not satisfied with this determination may request a hearing before the Election Appeals Master within two (2) working days of receipt of this decision. The parties are reminded that, absent extraordinary circumstances, no party may rely upon evidence that was not presented to the Office of the Election Supervisor in any such appeal. Requests for a hearing shall be made in writing, shall specify the basis for the appeal, and shall be served upon:
Kenneth Conboy
Election Appeals Master
Latham & Watkins
Suite 1000
885 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Fax: (212) 751-4864
Copies of the request for hearing must be served upon the parties, as well as upon the Election Supervisor for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 1801 K Street, N.W., Suite421 L, Washington, D.C. 20006, all within the time prescribed above. A copy of the protest must accompany the request for hearing.
Richard W. Mark
Election Supervisor
cc: Kenneth Conboy
2010 ESD 14
DISTRIBUTION LIST (BY EMAIL UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED):
Bradley T. Raymond, General Counsel
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington,D.C. 20001
braymond@teamster.org
David J. Hoffa
Hoffa Keegel 2011
1100 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Ste. 730
Washington D.C. 20036
hoffadav@hotmail.com
Ken Paff
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
P.O. Box 10128
Detroit, MI 48210-0128
ken@tdu.org
Barbara Harvey
1394 E. Jefferson Avenue
Detroit, MI 48207
blmharvey@sbcglobal.net
Fred Gegare
P.O. Box 9663
Green Bay, WI 54308-9663
kirchmanb@yahoo.com
Scott D. Soldon
Previant Goldberg
1555 North RiverCenter Drive, Ste. 202
P.O. Box 12993
Milwaukee, WI 53212
sds@previant.com
Fred Zuckerman, President
Teamsters Local Union 89
3813 Taylor Blvd.
Louisville, KY 40215
fredzuckerman@aol.com
Robert M. Colone, Esq.
P.O. Box 272
Sellersburg, IN 47172-0272
rmcolone@hotmail.com
Lucio Reyes, Secretary-Treasurer
Teamsters Local Union 601
745 E. Miner Ave.
Stockton, CA 95202
lreyes601@sbcglobal.net
Maria Ashley Alvarado, President
Teamsters Local Union 601
745 E. Miner Ave.
Stockton, CA 95202
europeartmuseum@yahoo.com
Christine Mrak
2357 Hobart Avenue, SW
Seattle, WA 98116
chrismrak@gmail.com
Rochelle Goffe
1234 22nd Avenue, E
Seattle, WA 98112
rochellegoffe@gmail.com
Jeffrey J. Ellison
214 S. Main Street, Ste. 210
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
EllisonEsq@aol.com