INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, May 16 — Timothy T. Price was reelected by acclamation to his first full term as Chairman of the Ohio State Legislative Board at the Board’s 16th quadrennial meeting held in Columbus, Ohio, April 22-24, 2018.
Delegates from all across the state of Ohio gathered with guests and guest speakers from throughout the United States to reflect on the Ohio State Legislative Board and BLET’s successes over the past four years, while delegates charted the Ohio SLB’s course for the future.
“Our delegates gathered with excitement and resolve to continue the fight for Rail Labor, our members and their families,” Brother Price said.
A Norfolk Southern locomotive engineer, Brother Price is a member of BLET Division 607 (Cleveland, Ohio). He has held continuous BLET membership since December 1, 1993. In 2006, he was elected 2nd Vice Chairman of the Ohio State Legislative Board, moving up to 1st Vice Chairman a short time later. He was re-elected by acclamation to the office of 1st Vice Chairman in 2010 and 2014. In 2015, Brother Price was elevated to the office of Ohio State Legislative Board Chairman.
Also elected during the quadrennial meeting were: 1st Vice Chairman Tom Davis, Division 511 (Portsmouth, Ohio); 2nd Vice Chairman Kevin McGinty, Division 3 (Cleveland, Ohio); Secretary-Treasurer Brian D. Garrison, Division 306 (Crestline, Ohio); and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Luke Tuckerman, Division 4 (Toledo, Ohio). Brother Garrison was reelected by acclamation.
Representing the BLET National Division at the meeting were: National President Dennis R. Pierce; 1st Vice President E. Lee Pruitt; National Secretary-Treasurer Stephen J. Bruno; and Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman. Robert F. Hagan, BLET Director of Political and Legislative Affairs, was also in attendance. Brother Hagan is a member of BLET Division 757 and served for many years as an elected official in the both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate.
“I am proud to thank and congratulate Brother Price and all officers and members of the Ohio State Legislative Board,” President Pierce said. “I am sure they will do an excellent job of representing our members in Ohio and educating elected officials regarding railroad safety and other issues of importance to the BLET.”
Delegates also heard from BLET Auxiliary National President Sereena Hogan. Numerous special guests representing various BLET General Committees of Adjustment and State Legislative Boards were also in attendance.
On the first day of the session, delegates, spouses, and guests participated in the Ohio SLB””””s inaugural visit and tour of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. They were met by: Ohio House Representative Michelle Lepore-Hagan, District 58 (Youngstown, Ohio), who is the wife of BLET member Bob Hagan; and John Patterson, Ohio House Representative, District 99. Representative Lepore-Hagan discussed the importance of rail legislation currently in the House and Senate and the process of educating the BLET membership in contacting their District Representatives and Senators as to how they should vote on these issues. Representative Patterson spoke on a brief history of the Ohio House of Representatives and their procedures while in session. “It was a fantastic experience for all of us,” Brother Price said.
The Ohio State Legislative Board is comprised of 22 BLET Divisions and represents approximately 2,700 active and retired members.