INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 26 — Matthew B. Parker was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Nevada State Legislative Board at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in Reno, Nevada, September 20-21, 2017.
A Union Pacific locomotive engineer, Brother Parker has held continuous membership in Division 158 (Sparks, Nevada) since he joined the Brotherhood on May 1, 2004. Parker was elected to serve the Board as 1st Vice Chairman in July of 2009, and then moved up to the Chairman’s office in January of 2013. He was then reelected to continue serving as Chairman at the Board’s quadrennial meeting in June of 2013.
Also elected by acclamation were: 1st Vice Chairman Emidio Gonzalez Jr., Division 158 (Sparks); 2nd Vice Chairman Donna Domingo, Division 794 (Elko); Secretary-Treasurer Keith E. Underwood, Division 158 (Sparks); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Chad A. Holub, Division 766 (Las Vegas). Brother Underwood and Brother Holub were reelected to their second consecutive terms.
Elected by acclamation to serve with Brothers Parker, Gonzalez and Underwood on the Executive Committee were: Gerald Coon, Division 766 (Las Vegas); and Jay Phenegar, Division 158 (Sparks). Reelected by acclamation to serve on the Audit Committee were: John Passi, Division 158 (Sparks); Will Bartlett, Division 158 (Sparks); and Justin White, Division 158 (Sparks).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; First Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman; and Vincent G. Verna, BLET Director of Regulatory Affairs.
“I am proud to offer my thanks and congratulations to Brother Parker and all officers of the Nevada State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “It was a great meeting and I have every confidence they will continue doing an excellent job of representing the best interests of our members in the proud state of Nevada.”
Also in attendance were: Steve A. Leyshon, General Chairman, Union Pacific-Western Region; and Sean H. Morgan, 1st Vice Chairman, California State Legislative Board.
Brother Parker reported that the National Division officers addressed the Board regarding subjects including: the political climate and labor issues ongoing in our nation’s capital; the status of rail industry regulatory measures under consideration and matters pending before the Federal Railroad Administration; and the impact of the last national election on us as members of rail labor.
“These past four years have been an incredible journey,” Brother Parker said. “I have had the opportunity to go places and do things I never envisioned, and I believe this has made me more well-rounded as a person.” During the business meeting, he discussed the Board’s achievements during the past four years, including the success in passing two-person crew legislation through the Nevada legislature, which was disappointingly vetoed by the Nevada State’s governor.
Nine of the Board’s 10 members were present, including the Legislative Representatives from all three of the State’s Divisions. The Board concluded its business on the first day of the meeting, while training for Board members took place on the second day. The topics covered the training day included: the BLET-PAC fund; whistleblower laws; the basic functions of a Division Legislative Representatives; lobbying; and the operations of the Nevada State Legislative Board.
The BLET’s Nevada State Legislative Board represents more than 300 active and retired members from three Local Divisions.