Richardson, 2026 ESD 33
OFFICE OF THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR
for the
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
IN RE: RICHARDSON, ) Protest Decision: 2026 ESD 33
PAMELA )
) Issued: January 30, 2026
Protestor. ) OES Case No. P-055-012426
Pamela Richardson, candidate for delegate on the New Vision 767 2026 Delegate Slate, filed a pre-election protest pursuant to Article XIII, Section 2(b) of the Rules for the 2025-2026 IBT International Union Delegate and Officer Election (“Rules”) against David (“Dave”) Reeves, President of Local 767, and his slate, the Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate. Richardson alleges that after Reeves was elected to his current position as principal officer of Local 767, he purchased pop-up tents that state, “Teamsters Local Union No. 767, Dave Reeves, President” (the “Tents”). Richardson alleges that the Tents have been used during the lasts four years at local union events, functions, and gate actions at various worksite locations. She claims that because Reeves, the incumbent, has included his name in the slate “Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate” use of the Tents violates Article VII, Section 12(c), Article XI, Section 1(b)(3), and Article XI, Section 1(b)(6) of the Rules.
Dolores Hall of the Office of the Election Supervisor (“OES”) investigated this protest. The investigation included interviews of protestor Richardson, Reeves, and Matt Fitch, President of Merriman Rivers, a third-party contractor retained by Local 767 to administer its delegate election, as well as review of all materials submitted by the interested parties and witnesses in connection to this protest including the slate declaration form for Teamsters United 767 Dave Reeves Slate, a screen shot of text messages between Richardson and Fitch, email from Reeves dated January 27, 2026.
BACKGROUND
Richardson stated that the Tents have been used repeatedly over the past four years. It is her position that every time Reeves used the Tents during that time period, he was campaigning with union equipment and/or the use of union funds because the Tents were purchased by Local 767, and Reeves’s name and title is included on them. However, she acknowledged that she is not aware of the Tents being used since Local 767’s delegate election cycle began.
Consistent with Richardson’s allegations, Reeves confirmed that the Tents were purchased with Local 767 funds shortly after he became President of Local 767 about four years ago. He also confirmed that the Tents have been used for various Local 767 functions since that time. Reeves stated that he included his name and title on the Tents because he wanted members to know who to contact in the event they experienced problems. Reeves denied ever using the Tents to campaign and stated that no one has complained about them before this protest.
Richardson made clear that she does not take issue with the Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate name but, the use of the Tents that were purchased with union funds.[1] Nevertheless, we provide some brief history on both slate names discussed herein to provide additional context.
When Reeves was asked about his slate’s name, Reeves stated that including his name avoids confusion with the slate Richardson is on. Reeves explained that in the last delegate election and the last two Local 767 officer elections, Reeves’s slate included the phrase “New Vision.” Although Reeves’s slate in this delegate election does not include that phrase, the opposing slate (Richardson’s slate) does—New Vision 767 2026 Delegate Slate.
Reeves stated that he believes that the opposing slate’s use of “New Vision” in its slate name could cause confusion among voters who have connected or associated that terminology with his slate for years. Reeves stated that inserting his name in his slate’s name this delegate election cycle, helps avoid some of that confusion. We note that including Reeves’s name likely avoids confusion about which slate Reeves is on, but it does not appear that Reeves included his name in his slate’s name because of this reason. Reeves’s slate submitted its slate declaration form to Fitch (who conducted Local 767’s nomination meeting on January 24, 2026) on January 17, 2026—seven days before Richardson submitted her slate’s name “New Vision 767 2026 Delegate Slate.”[2] Rather, Reeves stated that he chose to use a different slate name this election because Local 997 was merged into Local 767 and he wanted his slate name to sound inclusive for the members of Local 997.
Richardson stated that her slate had another name picked out but when they learned that Reeves’s slate was the Teamsters United 767 – Dave Reeves Slate, they decided their initial name was too similar and would cause confusion. After much debate, the New Vision 767 2026 Delegate Slate settled on its current name because it is meaningful to them, and they have a new vision for Local 767.
ANALYSIS
Richardson alleges that Reeves and his slate’s use of the Tents violations Article VII, Section 12 and Article XI, Sections 1(b)(3) and (6). Article VII, Section 12(c) governs the freedom to exercise political rights and prohibits the use of union funds or equipment “to assist in campaigning unless the Union is reimbursed at fair market value for such assistance, and unless all candidates are provided equal access to such assistance and are notified in advance, in writing, of the availability of such assistance.”
Article XI, Section 1(b)(3) prohibits local unions from contributing, directly or indirectly, anything of value, “where the purpose, object or foreseeable effect of the contribution is to influence, positively or negatively, the election of a candidate[.]” It also prohibits all candidates from accepting or using any such contribution which extends “beyond strictly monetary contributions” and includes “contributions and use of the organization’s stationery, equipment, facilities, and personnel.”
Article XI, Section 1(b)(6) prohibits the use of:
Union funds or other things of value shall be used, directly or indirectly, to promote the candidacy of any individual. Union funds, facilities, equipment, stationery, personnel, etc., may not be used to assist in campaigns unless the Union is compensated at fair market value for such assistance, and unless all candidates are provided with equal access to such assistance and are advised in advance, in writing, of the availability of such assistance. The use of the Union’s official stationery with the Union’s name, insignia, or other mark identifying the Union is prohibited, irrespective of compensation or access. Other use of the Union’s name, insignia, or mark by Union members, in connection with the exercise of rights under these Rules, is permitted.
The facts of this protest are largely undisputed. It is undisputed that the Tents were purchased with union funds, include Reeves’s name and his title as President of Local 767, and have been used at functions and events over the last four years. However, as Richardson admits, she is unaware of the Tents being used at any time during this delegate election. Accordingly, we do not find evidence of a violation of the Rules and DENY this protest.
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] After the investigation had concluded and this decision was drafted (but not yet issued), Richardson emailed the investigator with a photo of a sticker on a notebook. The sticker reads, “TEAMSTERS LOCAL 767” at the top with the local’s insignia and identifies “Dave Reeves, President and Principal Officer” and “Darren Bradley, Secretary Treasurer” at the bottom with Local 767’s address. Richardson stated, “Here is another example of union funds paying for Dave Reeves President[.] These stickers are adhered to every contract book our local has distributed for many years. These were and continue to be union funds which pay for this advertising. Allowing Dave Reeves to add his personal name to his Teamster United slate would be unfair by the nature of the rule due to the implication and support of incumbency.” First, these allegations were not included in Richardson’s protest. In fact, to the extent protestor now claims that allowing Reeves to use his name in his slate’s name is a violation of the Rules, such claims directly conflict with her earlier statement (discussed further below). Second, it is unclear whether these new allegations were timely filed as Richardson acknowledges that the stickers have been adhered to contract books for years. Third, Richardson has not provided any evidence that use of these stickers constitutes a violation of the Rules. Like the Tents discussed herein, she does not allege that the stickers have been used at any time to campaign during this delegate election. Lastly, to the extent Richardson now claims that including Reeves’ name in the name of his slate is a violation, we disagree. “[W]ide 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.” Kelly, 2021 ESD 48 (Jan. 26, 2021), aff’d 2021 EAM 8 (Feb. 1, 2021) (emphasis added) (citing Davis, P115 (December 17, 1990)). The use of Reeves’ name does not communicate, indicate or otherwise highlight Reeves’ position as current principal officer, and we decline to find that union officials are prohibited from including their names in their slate name. To do so would be contrary to the clear legal precedent. Compare Davis & Meyer, 2016 ESD 112 (Feb. 16, 2016) (“Our regulation of slate names is generally very narrow. We will not permit slate names that…indicate incumbency in union office of slate members” but “we have approved slate names that incorporate the name of a candidate for International office or the local union name and number”) (citations removed) with Winzenried, 2011 EAD 136 (Feb. 6, 2001) (“Executive Board/Rank & File Slate” was improper under the Rules because it “described the slate members as incumbents, or suggested that they were such”); see also Rules, Article II, Section 10(e).
[2] Fitch stated that the New Vision 767 2026 Delegate Slate selected its name and submitted it to Fitch on January 24, 2026.