INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, April 10 — Brother Eric A. Gabaldon was elected Chairman of the New Mexico State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting in Albuquerque, N.M., on November 1, 2016.
Brother Gabaldon is a Burlington Northern Santa Fe locomotive engineer who has held continuous membership in Division 400 (Albuquerque, N.M.) since March 1, 2006. He hired out in 1998 with the BNSF mechanical department before transferring to engine service. He earned promotion to locomotive engineer in 2003. Brother Gabaldon is currently in his third term as Local Chairman of Division 400 and also serves as its Legislative Representative.
Also elected at the quadrennial meeting were: 1st Vice Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer Brian A. Jenne, Division 811 (Clovis, N.M.); 2nd Vice Chairman Patrick T. Lynch, Division 446 (Belen, N.M.); 3rd Vice Chairman J.A. (Jimmy) Steiner, Division 15 (Albuquerque, N.M.); 4th Vice Chairman Gilbert E. Tafoya Jr., Division 791 (Belen, N.M.); Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Eddie M. Padilla, Division 400 (Albuquerque, N.M.); and Chaplain Blake K. Switzer, Division 811 (Clovis, N.M.). Elected to serve on the Audit Committee were: Pat Lynch, Division 446; Jimmy Steiner, Division 15; and Gilbert Tafoya, Division 791.
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: Dennis R. Pierce, National President; E. Lee Pruitt, First Vice President; and John P. Tolman, Vice President and National Legislative Representative.
“Congratulations to Brother Gabaldon and all officers of the New Mexico State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “ I thank them for their dedication to our Brotherhood. I also wish to recognize outgoing Chairman Pat Lynch for his many years of service to the Brotherhood.”
Brother Lynch played a key role in reestablishing the New Mexico State Legislative Board in 2012, and served as its Chairman from 2012-2016.
Additional Brotherhood guests included: David K. Brown, Minnesota State Legislative Board Chairman; G.N. (Nick) Johnson, Arizona State Legislative Board Chairman; Chris S. Lewis, Local Chairman of Division 811 (Clovis, N.M.); Manny Perez III, Local Chairman of Division 647 (Phoenix, Ariz.). Other guests included U.S. Representative Ben Ray Lujan, who represents New Mexico’s 3rd District; and Chris Martinez of the Federal Railroad Administration.
The New Mexico State Legislative Board represents approximately 550 active and retired members in five BLET Divisions.