INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, September 27 — Paul Piekarski was elected to his third full term as Chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board at the Board’s 15th quadrennial meeting in Springfield, Ill., September 5-7, 2018.
Brother Piekarski is a Union Pacific (formerly C&NW) locomotive engineer and one of the BLET””s three full time state legislative board chairman (California and Texas being the others). He has been a proud member of BLET Division 683 (Chicago) for over 44 years.
Also elected to the Board’s Executive Committee were: 1st Vice Chairman Chris Falaney of Division 683 (Chicago); 2nd Vice Chairman Rick Leschina of Division 32 (Aurora, Ill.); 3rd Vice Chairman Cory Martin of Division 135 (Beardstown, Ill.); and Secretary-Treasurer, Doug Pope of Division 444 (Granite City, Ill.).
Elected to serve on the Audit Committee were: Dan Thielemann of Division 613 (Dolton, Ill.); Rick Leschina of Division 32 (Aurora, Ill.); and Charles Grigsby of Division 602 (Champaign, Ill.).
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; National Secretary-Treasurer Stephen J. Bruno; Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman; and Director of Regulatory Affairs Vincent G. Verna.
“On behalf of the National Division, I am proud to congratulate Brother Piekarski and all officers of the Illinois State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “I also thank them for their dedication and willingness to serve our Brotherhood. I have every confidence they will do an outstanding job representing the interests of BLET members throughout the state.”
Additional BLET guests included Minnesota State Legislative Board Chairman David Brown.
Piekarski became 1st Vice Chairman of the Illinois State Legislative Board in 2004 and was elected by acclamation to that position at the Board’s 2006 quadrennial convention. He was promoted to the Chairman’s position following the retirement of C. Edward Way on May 31, 2010. Brother Piekarski was then elected by acclamation to continue serving as Chairman at the Board’s 2010 and 2014 quadrennial meetings.
The Illinois State Legislative Board represents approximately 2,000 members in 40 different BLET divisions. Piekarski said all seven Class I railroads operate within the state, and approximately 25% of the nation freight passes through Illinois. It is also home to Metra, the nation””s second largest commuter rail system.