Tom Brandau for Business Rep

I am Steve Nelson and I have been nominated for one of the Trustee positions on the Executive Board of Local 695.

For those of you who haven’t encountered me in the 23 years I’ve been a production mixer (in the local since 1988 – got in on an organizational), well, this is pretty much the only career I’ve had. Of the dozen or so Steve Nelsons on imdb.com for some reason I am Steve Nelson (1). I live in Goleta because my wife teaches at UC Santa Barbara and I’ve a fantastic daughter in high school. When I’m not working – and even when I am – I really like to ride a road bicycle; I’m the one in lycra you might see pedaling away from the set at lunch.

I am on this ballot because some friends and colleagues who I trust and respect asked me to join them, again, in donating some time to trying to help run our Local Union in a better way. You may sense a certain lack of enthusiasm in my tone here. Let me explain: I am reluctant to donate my time (I’d probably rather give money) because time is the most precious, most easily wasted non-renewable resource we have, and any of this valuable time that I have away from work I’d much rather spend, as would many of you, with family, fixing my house or on my bike. Spending that Saturday morning – and whenever else - at a Board meeting, is one of the last things I’d like to do. Especially when it means spending it at over-long, non-productive meetings dominated by a long-winded, bullying and sometimes incoherent Business Agent.

The other reason for my lack of enthusiasm is that I have sat on the Board before. I was elected at the same time as Frank Meadows, and served through what there was of his term and into the reign of terror of one David Kimball until for family reasons I had to move out of state and thus curtailed my involvement with the Board, somewhat before the Trusteeship took us over. It is my prior experience as an officer of this local that creates the reluctance; I have more than a clue of what it is like to attend the meetings with all good intentions and be stymied at every turn. It is more than just frustrating; it is a waste of time.

Nevertheless, I am still on the ballot because I see this as an opportunity to serve our membership once again with some truly fantastic and dedicated people, some with lots of experience, some with little, but all with the desire and the potential to work together as a unit, business agent and board, to get this local to where it needs to be to get us, the membership through these dangerous and changing times.

I am not a part of any official “slate” but my desire to be a part of a fractious and contentious and non-productive executive board is minimal. I am asking for your vote, but more importantly I am asking you to strongly consider these other candidates:

I believe the most important officer we are electing is our Business Representative. I believe that while Jim Osburn was the right guy to get us through the difficult transition after the Trusteeship, but we have come to a time when he has outlasted his usefulness. His bombast and paranoia are now doing us more harm than good – just try to actually read one of his letters. It is embarrassing and no wonder that the other Locals and the International treat us with so little respect.

Please consider Tom Brandau for the office of Business Rep. I’ve known Tom for many years as a mixer and a friend. He shows a willingness to learn the job (obviously you can’t know it until you’ve actually done it) and a desire to listen to his constituents and not dominate them. He knows that the Business Rep. serves the Board and the Membership, not the other way round. Tom is smart, just aggressive enough, willing to delegate and not so verbose that the meetings won’t run on forever. It is definitely time for a change in this office and I believe that Tom Brandau will be a change for the better. Check his website at http://www.productionrecording.com

I ask you to consider Mark Ulano for your President. You’ve known him for years as a mixer, a board member and as Vice-President. He has given a tremendous amount of himself to this organization and will be an excellent President. If Jim Osburn is re-elected it is even more important to have a strong president; he is one of the few who can provide a balance to Jim’s domineering presence.

Carolyn Bowden will be an asset as Secretary-Treasurer. Her experience at the International and in the field as a mixer, etc. will serve her and us well. It would be her first time as an officer, but her enthusiasm, her smarts and her lack of alignment with the old guard will be a fresh change.

It will not be the first time that Glenn Berkovitz is on the Board. He has also worked as an employee of Local 700 and is familiar with the world of Union politics and has tremendous heart and energy and a strong sense of justice.

Jeff Wexler has been a Trustee for how many terms? Jeff is an independent thinker, articulate and incredibly generous of himself. We are so lucky to have him. Eric Pierce seems to be very fired up about doing this job; let’s let the new guy have a whack at it.

Of the candidates for mixer reps, you couldn’t make a bad choice among the three of them, but the people I would most like to work with are Ed Moskowitz and Richard Lightstone.

Courtney Goodin is simply one of the smartest people I know (and funniest, too.) He is intimidated by no one, is very articulate and a very clear thinker. We would be well served by his presence on our board. With the incumbent, Richard Cogswell, the Engineers would be well represented.

Laurence Abrams brings years of tireless dedication and experience. He has kept up his service and his sharp mind under conditions that would have sent a lesser person screaming from the building a long time ago. If he wishes to carry on for another term as Boom Operators’ rep we should he honored to have him. Andy Rovins is a hell of a boom man, and a rock. He has been here before, knows what he is getting into and is ready to rejoin the fray.

We are working people and we surely have better things to do with our precious time than worry about what is happening at the Local, or why we don’t get our calls returned, or why we occasionally have to wade through some overwritten yet nearly illiterate piece of bombast which usually confuses more than enlightens, or wonder about why the other Locals and the International treat 695 with something less than the respect which we are certainly due. And why are we such a ridiculously litigious local? Why is everybody always suing everybody else; isn’t there a better way to work out these contentious issues that drain our energy and our resources?

This election represents an opportunity to move ahead with clear thinking and unity. Please join me in voting for these good people as our representatives and officers.

--------------steve nelson