The SAG-AFTRA Election: Crunching the Numbers.
The following is from an email sent out by Paul Edney.
National Election results:
139,967 ballots mailed.
28,755 ballots returned = 20.54%
Ken Howard – 16,396 votes
Esai Morales – 9,850 votes
Paul Edney – 1,359 votes
Marilyn Monrovia – 960 votes
Amy Aquino – 17,590 votes
Jane Austin – 10,662 votes
.
Some interesting statistics.
1. The number of ballots mailed for the Los Angeles Board was 69,659. If you divide that by 139,967 (the total number of ballots mailed), you get a figure of 49.77%. That means that the members in the LA Board represent just about half of the union. It will be interesting to see if the same percentage is allocated to delegates from LA. Somehow the way the constitution is set up, I think not.
2. The LA area had the lowest turnout – 15.09%. Why so much apathy? Hawai’i had the highest turnout, almost 33%.
3. Allen Lulu failed to get a National Board seat. He was eleventh in line to fail. He also failed to get a LA Local Board seat. He was sixth in line to fail.
4. Esai Morales had a higher % of votes than Ken Howard for the National Board, 46.03% to 45.55%. Esai also beat Ken Howard for convention delegate, 35.64% to 34.44%.
5. Esai Morales had the second highest number of votes cast for a LA Local Board seat – 5,122 (after Jenny O’hara).
6. Jane Austin got elected to the National Board (4-year term) and the LA Local Board. And so did her rival Amy Aquino.
7. Martin Sheen got the highest number of votes for convention delegate. The second highest was Esai Morales.
8. MF members (or endorsed by them) Michael Bell, David Joliffe, Scott Pierce, Alan Ruck, and Millie Wright all got higher votes cast than Allen Lulu for convention delegate.
9. As of 11.15pm Thursday November 15th, the final results have not been posted for New York. I guess it must be very close and either side may have asked for a recount. Since we don’t have the NY results yet, I added up all the ballots mailed out to the small locals. 3 small locals had no contest (Michigan, Nashville & Portland), so I averaged them at 600 members each. This way, I figured out the approx. number of ballots mailed in New York.
Los Angeles – 69, 659 members = 49.77%
Small Locals – 35,942 members = 25.68%
New York – 34,366 members = 24.55%
TOTAL – 139, 967 members = 100%
So, basically, you can say that our union is split with half in LA, one quarter in NY and the other quarter in the small Locals.
10. The way I see the National voting went, NY probably voted overwhelmingly for Ken Howard. I am expecting to see a high % turnout because of the battle between the Reardon and Hodges factions. The Locals probably voted mostly for Esai. However, the apathy in LA with a very low turnout (15.09%) is probably why Esai was not elected.
11. The second highest voter turnout was the Atlanta Local with 32.78% of its 1,196 members voting. Hawai’i (32.96%) and Atlanta really puts LA to shame.
12. The top 10 Local Boards, by the number of members.
1. Los Angeles – 69.659
2. New York – 34,366 (approximate)
3. Washington-Mid-Atlantic – 4,404
4. San Francisco – 4,178
5. Chicago – 3,687
6. Miami – 3,428
7. New England – 3,032
8. Philadelphia – 2,789
9. Ohio – 1,479
10. San Diego – 1,337
What’s interesting about this is that 3 Locals in the top 10 are in California. Yet, California has four background zones, when there should be statewide coverage. Also, 7 of the top 10 are within background zones. This means background is vital in keeping up the membership numbers.
13. Larry Vigus, failed in his bid and was not elected to the New England Board – he came last, and also second to last in convention delegates.
14. Rik Deskin failed in his Vice-President bid for the Seattle Local, but managed to be elected a delegate.
15. For my candidacy, I got 1,359 votes. This high number surprised me because I stated from the very beginning for members to vote for Esai instead.
16. (Edited)
17. I really thought the vote would be much closer in the Esai – Ken race. But even if you add in my votes and Marilyn’s votes, Esai still did not come close. I think Esai was the right candidate, but maybe the campaign fell short. Obviously some analysis needs to be done on the Membership First campaign to see what can be improved two years from now. I would suggest start fund raising now so next time we can also mail out glossy color brochures.
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I edited out a few personal asides by Mr. Edney, but overall found his comments informative. If anyone disagrees with his numbers or observations please post below.
Arl
The Ol’ Watchdog