Richardson,2026 ESD 44
OFFICE OF THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR
for the
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
IN RE: RICHARDSON, ) Protest Decision: 2026 ESD 44
PAMELA )
) Issued: February 19, 2026
Protestor. ) OES Case No. P-055-012426
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)
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INTRODUCTION
On January 30, 2026, the Election Supervisor issued his decision in Richardson, 2026 ESD 33 (Jan. 30, 2026) (the “Decision”) finding that the facts were largely undisputed including that protestor, Pamela Richardson, admitted that she was unaware of the use of the subject Tents[1] during Local 767’s delegate election. Thus, no violation of the Rules was found. Richardson appealed the Decision claiming that that after the investigation concluded and the Decision was issued, she obtained new evidence allegedly in support of her allegations. Specifically, Richardson submitted photographs from an event on January 21, 2025, where Local 767’s Tents were used during the election cycle. Thus, we issued Richardson, 2026 ESD 37 (Feb. 5, 2026) staying our determination in the Decision pending the completion of further investigation. Due to the impending deadline to print the ballots for Local 767’s delegate election, we issue this decision concerning the protestor’s allegations related to Reeves’s use of his name in the “Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate” only. We will issue a separate decision concerning Richardson’s allegations that use of the Tents and Stickers is an improper use of union funds or equipment for campaign purposes and/or improper campaign contributions.
Dolores Hall of the OES conducted a further investigation based on Richardson’s new evidence. As part of her investigation, she interviewed Darren Bradley, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 767 and candidate for delegate in Local 767’s Delegate Election, Anthony Treppiccione, Local 767 Business Agent, Robert Lopez, Local 767 Business Agent, Jaime Moreno, Local 767 Business Agent. Both Lopez and Moreno are running in Local 767’s delegate election on the “Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate.”
BACKGROUND
In the fall of 2025, the IBT ratified its contract with Trinity Metro and in January 2026, new contract books were issued. Bradley stated that on January 21, 2026, available officers were at Trinity Metro from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. distributing breakfast and the new contract books to members (the “Event”). Bradley said that it is a common practice for Local 767 to hand out breakfast or lunch with the distribution of new books depending on the time of the event. He also said it was common practice for all of available officers to visit a location like this to hand out the new contract books to the members.
Treppiccione, Lopez, and Reeves confirmed that they were also present at the Event. It is undisputed that the Tents including the reference to Dave Reeves as Local 767’s President was used during the Event. The witnesses stated that they were cooking and serving breakfast under the Tents. In addition to the Tents, the witnesses stated that each contract book handed out was affixed with a sticker identifying Reeves as the President of Local 767 (the “Sticker”).
Bradley and Lopez stated that the Event at Trinity was a typical union event for Local 767. Morena explained that anytime the local has a new contract, they hand out books to the members at the facility and make an event out of it, just like the Event. He confirmed that it is Local 767’s practice for all officers and Business Agents available, participate in the event.
Lopez stated that, to his knowledge, the Tents have not been used since that event. However, Treppiccione stated that the local just negotiated a new contract with Refresco Beverage, received the new contract books, and were putting the Stickers on the back of. He said that Local 767 plans to have an event at Refresco in the next couple of weeks to hand out the books and cook and serve the members there like they did at the Event. Treppiccione stated that the local plans to use the Tents at that event as is their typical practice.
ANALYSIS
Richardson alleges that the similarities between the Tents and Stickers, both displaying Reeves’s name and title, and his slate, “Teamsters 767 United - Dave Reeves Slate” constitutes improper campaigning to his slate’s advantage.
Applicable precedent is clear—the Election Supervisor has limited authority to regulate slate names. As explained in Davis & Meyer, 2016 ESD 112 (Feb. 16, 2016):
Our regulation of slate names is generally very narrow. We will not permit slate names that are obscene, that indicate incumbency in union office of slate members, or that are too long to fit on the ballot. Davis, P115 (December 17, 1990). Against these prohibitions, we have approved slate names that incorporate the name of a candidate for International office or the local union name and number. Dietrich, P350 (February 5, 1996); Harrington, P159 (September 27, 1995). Generally, we give wide breadth in selection of slate names. Owens, P628 (March 28, 1996), aff’d, 96 EAM 163 (April 10, 1996) (protest denied even though there was some evidence that the “Ron Carey Support” slate in fact supported Hoffa). Such breadth is not without limit, however. A slate will not be permitted to select a name that historically is associated with another slate or is otherwise likely to mislead voters. Thompson, 2001 EAD 232 (March 12, 2001); Dunning, P189 (October 13, 1995) (slate could not deliberately choose a name which had previously been used by the incumbent officers in a local election and in which it knew the local officers might choose for its slate and use on its campaign materials).
(emphasis added); See also Kelly, 2021 ESD 48 (Jan. 26, 2021) (“wide breadth is given in the selection of a slate name. Generally, a slate may be identified with any designation unless the name selected specified or communicated incumbency, was obscene, or was too lengthy to appear on the ballot.”) (citing Davis, P115 (December 17, 1990)).
Richardson challenges the slate name “Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate” and asks that the slate be ordered to remove reference to Reeves’s name. But, as noted above, we have very limited authority to regulate slate names, and the subject slate name does not fall within any of the narrow circumstances. Notably, while “Teamsters United 767 - Dave Reeves Slate” references Reeves’s name, it is well established that the use of officer names in a slate name is permitted. Moreover, there is no reference to Reeves’s incumbency. Compare P-189-LU486-MGN & P-190-LU486-MGN (no issue with the secretary-treasurer Dave Robinson’s slate using the name the “Dave Robinson Slate”) to Winzenried, 2001 EAD 136 (Feb. 6, 2001) (“the Election Administrator’s Regional Director informed the candidates on [the Executive Board/Rank & File Candidates] slate that the name of the slate would have to be changed because of the provisions of Article II, Section 10(e) of the Rules, which prohibits any indication of incumbency on delegate election ballots.”). We find that the slate name “Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate” is not in violation of the Rules and is, therefore, permitted.
Accordingly, we DENY Protest No. P-055-012426 only as to the allegations concerning the use of “Dave Reeves” in the slate name “Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate’s.”
APPELLATE RIGHTS
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. Any party requesting a hearing must comply with the requirements of Article XIII, Section 2(i). All parties are reminded that, absent extraordinary circumstances, no party may rely in any such appeal upon evidence that was not presented to the Office of the Election Supervisor. Requests for a hearing shall be made in writing, shall specify the basis for the appeal, and shall be served upon:
Election Appeals Master
Barbara Jones
Election Appeals Master
IBTappealsmaster@bracewell.com
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. Service may be accomplished by email, using the “reply all” function on the email by which the party received this decision. A copy of the protest must accompany the request for hearing. A copy of the protest must accompany the request for hearing.
Timothy S. Hillman
Election Supervisor
cc: Barbara Jones, IBTappealsmaster@bracewell.com
DISTRIBUTION LIST (BY EMAIL UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE):
David Varela
Dave Reeves
Edward M. Gleason, Jr.,
David Suetholz
Will Bloom
Ken Paff
Thomas Kokalas
Timothy S. Hillman
Paul Dever
Kelly Hogan
[1] Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined the same as in Richardson, 2026 33 (Jan. 30, 2026).