INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 8 — Members of the BLET’s National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen (NASLBC) held their 47th annual meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from March 28-30, 2022.
The NASLBC has met annually since 1975 to hear from each State Chairman about railroad related safety and health issues as well as each state’s political climate.
The following officers were elected to lead the NASLBC: Chairman Shane Hubbard (Indiana State Legislative Board Chairman); 1st Vice Chairman Paul Pearson (Colorado SLBC); 2nd Vice Chairman Tim Laveing (Pennsylvania SLBC); Secretary-Treasurer Chuck Schulz (Wisconsin SLBC); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Sean Simon (New Jersey SLBC).
The following Regional Chairmen were elected: Region 1 Chairman Herb Harris (Washington D.C. SLBC); Region 1 Vice Chairman Sean Simon (New Jersey SLBC); Region 2 Chairman Wayne Denson (Arkansas SLBC); Region 2 Vice Chairman Richard Barnett Louisiana SLBC); Region 3 Chairman B.J. Trumble (Michigan SLBC); Region 3 Vice Chairman Joel Mueller Minnesota SLBC); Region 4 Chairman Cory Runion (Wyoming SLBC); and Region 4 Vice Chairman Ryan Snow (California SLBC).
The following Brothers were elected to serve as Trustees: D.B. Kenner, Montana SLBC; Richard Barnett, Louisiana SLBC: Cory Runion, Wyoming SLBC. Alternate Trustees elected were: 1st Alternate John Esterly, Ohio SLBC; 2nd Alternate Laney Keith, Mississippi SLBC; and 3rd Alternate Dwayne Massengale, Georgia SLBC.
All officers were elected by acclamation.
Several new State Legislative Board Chairmen were seated for their first NASLBC meeting, including: Shawn Sausville (Florida); Clem Harris (New Mexico); and Dylan Ekins (Washington).
On March 28, BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce, National Secretary-Treasurer Steve Bruno, and Vice President & National Legislative Representative Vince Verna made presentations to the NASLBC members on behalf of the BLET National Division.
“A strong legislative and political team is a key to the success of our union,” President Pierce said. “I offer my congratulations to Brother Hubbard and all officers of the NASLBC, and I thank them for their dedicated service to our Brotherhood.”
On March 29, the group heard presentations from: Brendan Sullivan, BLET Director of Political Affairs; and Eric Gabaldon, BLET Director of Legislative and Regulatory Affairs.
Special guests who spoke at the meeting included: the Honorable Alan Webber, Mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Representative Brian Egolf, Speaker of the House, New Mexico House of Representatives. The U.S. Senator from New Mexico, Martin Heinrich, sent a video message addressing the NASLBC delegates.
The various committees of the Association also met and conducted their business for the year. Items of discussion included: two-person crew legislation at the national and state levels; national contract negotiations; abusive carrier attendance policies; worker fatigue; safe operating practices in the face of PSR and extremely long trains; the regulatory climate in Washington D.C.; and upcoming elections.
The NASLBC is comprised of 40 State Legislative Boards across the United States and represents thousands of hard-working members of the BLET. The NASLBC will reconvene in 2023 for their 48th annual convention in Kansas City, Missouri.