CLEVELAND, March 4 — Cory L. Runion was reelected by acclamation to his third term as Chairman of the Wyoming State Legislative Board following triennial meetings that concluded on February 21 in Cheyenne, Wyo.
Brother Runion, a member of Division 115 (Cheyenne), is a Union Pacific locomotive engineer who first joined the Brotherhood on December 1, 2000. He was elected Vice Chairman of the State Legislative Board in 2007, and assumed the Chairman’s office on September 28, 2008, following the retirement for former State Chairman Terry R. Jones. Brother Runion was reelected by acclamation in 2010.
“I am honored to be elected to serve the Board and look forward to taking on the challenges we will face in the future,” he said. “We have several new members on the Board and the activities during our meetings I believe have helped them as well as our returning Board members to become energized and given them new tools to do their jobs in their local Divisions.”
Also elected by acclamation to three-year terms were: 1st Vice Chairman Terry L. Cooke, Division 103 (Cheyenne, Wyo.); 2nd Vice Chairman Gerald L. Hall, Division 44 (Cheyenne, Wyo.); Secretary-Treasurer Anthony P. Lecholat, Division 624 (Sheridan, Wyo.); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer George W. Johnson, Division 207 (Casper, Wyo.).
Elected by acclamation as members of the Audit Committee were: Steve S. Dyer, Division 31 (Bill, Wyo.); Jeff M. Leaf, Division 142 (Rawlins, Wyo.); and Eddie R. Sjostrom, Division 869 (Greybull, Wyo.).
Delegates honored retiring Secretary-Treasurer Lawrence F. Kemper (Division 94, Gillette, Wyo.) and recognized his many years of service to the Board. “It has been such a pleasure to work with Brother Lawrence for these past years and he faithfully kept our Board’s records in an exemplary manner,” Chairman Runion said. “We wish him the best in the future.”
The delegates had a full schedule that included a number of guest speakers. BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce addressed the group and took questions.
“I congratulate Brother Runion and thank all officers and members of the Wyoming State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “I especially encourage the younger members of the Board to continue their work with the union, as you are the future of our Organization. Also, I thank Brother Lawrence Kemper for his many years of hard work on behalf of Brotherhood.”
Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman provided information about the 2012 election cycle and how the efforts of organized labor created the outcome that it did.
Additional guests included: Dave Geisler, General Chairman, UP-Eastern District GCA; Jim Wilmesher, Chairman, Colorado State Legislative Board; Dave Ditzel, BLET Special Representative; Kim Floyd, Executive Secretary, Wyoming AFL-CIO; John Manutes, Lakewood District Chief Inspector, Federal Railroad Administration; Dan Neal, Executive Director, Wyoming Equality State Policy Center; and retired former BLET Wyoming State Legislative Board Chairman Terry Jones.
The delegates also heard from several members of the Wyoming State legislature, which is currently in session in Cheyenne. Among them was State Senator John Hastert, who is also the Vice President of the Wyoming AFL-CIO.
The meeting was especially proud to welcome State Legislative Representatives Ken Esquibel and Lee Filer, who in addition to their service in the Wyoming legislature are members of BLET Division 115 in Cheyenne. Esquibel’s brother Floyd A. Esquibel, a State of Wyoming Senator, was also in attendance.