As they head into contract negotiations in a bleak economy, city workers chose a familiar face to carry on the legacy of an outgoing union president.
Cherlyn Poindexter (pictured) was elected Thursday as president of AFSCME Local 3144, the city’s management union, after a heated campaign.
Poindexter, who’s currently the union vice president, beat out city investigator Rich Bayer by a vote of 183 to 132. (Click here for background on the race.)
She ran with the full support of outgoing president Larry Amendola, who recently retired and is stepping down as president after 23 years.
“I’m glad for her,” said Amendola after the vote. “She’ll do a great job.”
The election took place two days after a citywide election with anemic voter turnout. By contrast, voter turnout Thursday was high: 78 percent of the union, or 315 of 406 members, cast ballots in the basement of the Hall of Records.
Poindexter, who’s 43, works as a security analyst in the fire department. She’s worked for the city for 25 years and has been active in the union for the past 12.
Earlier in the day, Poindexter and the other candidates greeted voters as they went into the Hall of Records at 200 Orange St. Rather than talk about the past and the layoffs the union suffered, she focused on the upcoming contract negotiations that begin in January. She said her union experience prepares her to lead that fight.
“It’s a new day,” she said. “We’ve got to start working real soon.” (She couldn’t be reached for comment after the vote.)
Among her supporters was Mae Ola Riddick, who’s worked for the city since 1965. Reddick, a former alderwoman, said Poindexter earned her support when she stuck with her in a recent battle over pay. Reddick added that she’s especially proud to see the first African-American person in her memory elected to the union’s highest seat — “and she’s a woman, too.”
Elaine Braffman, a neighborhood specialist for the Livable City Initiative, won a three-way race for union vice president.
Braffman got 139 votes, Richard “Dickie” Bell got 89 and Thomas Verderame got 81.
Bell conceded the race to Braffman, avoiding a runoff vote. Braffman has worked for the city for 13 years. Before that, she served as alderwoman in Beaver Hill’s Ward 28 from 1988 to 1996.
“I want to humbly thank the members of the union for supporting me. I will not disappoint them,” Braffman said after the vote. She turned her attention to uniting the rank and file to prepare for the next round of negotiations.
“We have a huge job ahead of us,” she said. “Now we have to all come together.”
Great for 3144 membership! More of the same favoritism, backroom deals for buddies and all with Larry's blessing. Larry sat there watching everyone cast their ballot... What a joke. When's the next election?