Election roundup
Sixteen of District Council 37's 56 locals have held officer elections in recent months. In eight of them, union members chose new presidents; the other eight re-elected their incumbent leaders.

In landslide victories, two of the District Council's largest locals re-elected their presidents and the entire leadership slates they ran with. Charles Ensley, the longtime president of Social Service Employees Union Local 371, won his ninth term in office.

NYC Board of Education Employees Local 372 President Veronica Montgomery-Costa, who is also president of DC 37, won her second term.

Municipal Hospital Employees Local 420, which is also one of the Council's five largest locals, elected Carmen Charles as its new president (see story above).

Many of the local unions used the independent American Arbitration Association or other outside authorities to monitor their voting process for fairness and democracy.

At the request of District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, the union's Laws and Rules Committee is considering possible constitutional amendments that would bolster the integrity of all local elections.

"We are going to do everything we can under our constitution to fully protect our members' democratic rights," she said.

Since December 2001, the following eight DC 37 local presidents have been newly elected: Juan Fernandez, Local 154; Gene DeMartino, Local 376; Kyle Simmons, Local 924; Mickey McFarland, Local 1157; Charles Gary Cutler, Local 1508; Marvin Williams, Local 1665; John M. Monks, Local 2906; and Ms. Charles.

In eight locals, five candidates ran for president unopposed and three more won contested elections.
The eight who were re-elected are Victor Emmanuelson, Local 1087; Dr. Leonard Davidman, Local 1189; Carolyn Harper, Local 1251; Ralph Carbone, Local 1359; Melvin Bentley, Local 1502; Charles Farrison, Local 1797; Ms. Montgomery-Costa and Mr. Ensley.