Silverstein elected Guild president

Milwaukee Newspaper Guild members chose Tom Silverstein as our new president Tuesday.

Silverstein, a Journal Sentinel sportswriter, is a longtime steward who was a member of our most recent bargaining committee.

He succeeds Greg Pearson, who decided not to seek re-election. Pearson, a copy editor, served more than two years as president, after nearly four years as 1st vice president, the longest anyone had held our grievance chairmanship. He also has been a steward leader, board member and negotiator.

Members re-elected metro reporter Meg Kissinger to a second term as 1st vice president; copy editor Karen Samelson to a third full term as 2nd vice president; metro reporter Erin Richards to a second term as secretary; metro reporter Amy Hetzner to a fifth full term as treasurer; and feature writer Jan Uebelherr and Politifact Wisconsin reporter Tom Kertscher to a fourth full term and a third term, respectively, as at-large board members.

Returning to the Executive Board, after an absence of more than four years, is former president Bob Helbig. He's also been our vice president, our longest-serving treasurer, a board member, steward leader, bargainer and most recently our wage data coordinator.

Helbig, a deputy business editor, succeeds two at-large board members who did not seek re-election: metro reporter Mark Johnson, who served more than four years, and editorial writer James Causey, who served one year. A bylaws amendment adopted last year reduced the size of the board from 10 members to eight, effective with this election, and one seat had been vacant.

All of those elected will serve one-year terms, starting Friday. Their first task will be to fill appointed posts, including steward leaders and committee chairs and members. The vice presidents and steward leaders then will choose stewards.

Also at Tuesday's annual meeting:

• Members elected Silverstein and Kertscher as delegates to the international Guild's sector conference, with Samelson and Helbig as alternates. Silverstein was also elected as our delegate to the international convention of the Guild's parent union, the Communications Workers of America, with Kertscher, Samelson and Helbig as alternates.
• The membership renewed the "universal rebate" that keeps our dues at 1% of pay, for another year. An annual vote is required to maintain the discount.