Feud Reignited
Rosenthal: Roberts Meddled in Election

By MEREDITH KOLODNER

Motor Vehicles Operators Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal was re-elected in a bitter election last week that included charges of fiscal mismanagement and interference by District Council 37 leaders.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow BITTERSWEET VICTORY: Local 983 President Mark Rosenthal was re-elected by a wide margin, but accuses DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts of trying to engineer his 'political assassination.'

Mr. Rosenthal defeated challenger Ivan Petters by a tally of 396 to 97, and all of the officers on Mr. Rosenthal's slate won with about 80 percent of the vote. Mitchel Craner, an attorney for Mr. Petters, who also has represented DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, claimed that Mr. Rosenthal was not eligible to run, alleging that he was not technically a member of the union. Mr. Rosenthal accused his opponent of playing dirty and improperly getting aid from Ms. Roberts.

'An Old Mob Tactic'

"It goes back to an old mob tactic, trying to throw me off the ballot," said Mr. Rosenthal. "They used the same tactic used in 1998."

LILLIAN ROBERTS: 'Accusations illogical.'

Ms. Roberts vehemently denied any involvement in the campaign.

"I do not involve myself in local elections," she said in an email. "This is a DC 37 policy I strongly support and have always followed. Mr. Rosenthal does not present a shred of hard, corroborated evidence for a single claim he makes. I wish I could say that surprises me, but, unfortunately, it does not. To put it simply: His accusations are illogical, irrational, unfounded, and untrue."

But Mr. Rosenthal said his challenger had bragged about receiving support from Ms. Roberts and DC 37 to wage the campaign.

'Destabilizing the Local'

"She should be more concerned about running the union than meddling in my local," said Mr. Rosenthal. "I believe she wanted to destabilize the entire local."

The two labor leaders, who were once allies, have been at odds since 2003 when union critics charged Ms. Roberts broke her promise to implement reforms, including changing the union election procedure from a delegate system to direct elections for top officers.

Local 983 officials say that at a membership meeting several days before the election, Mr. Craner asserted that Mr. Rosenthal did not have the right to run, questioning his membership in the union.

Mr. Craner did not return calls requesting comment, nor a request to ask his client, Mr. Petters, to comment. Mr. Petters could not be reached.

Challenged by Outsider

On the day of the vote, an election observer, Pamela Rodriguez of Local 1549, challenged Mr. Rosenthal's right to vote, asserting that he was not a member in good standing. Ms. Rodriguez did not return calls requesting comment.

Witnesses said that Mr. Craner called the American Arbitration Association Vice President of Elections Jeffrey Zaino, who was overseeing the election, "a [expletive] idiot" after the count was finished. Mr. Zaino declined to comment, saying he wanted to be careful to stay out of union politics.

Mr. Rosenthal, like dozens of other DC 37 officials, is paid by the union and is on leave from his job as an Associate Park Service Worker. The Mayor's Executive Order 75 allows city employees to work full-time for their union while on leave from their city job. DC 37 is also allowed to put a number of these members on the city's payroll.

Light Turnout

A total of 493 out of 1,809 eligible members, or about 27 percent, voted in the election for the local's president, which took place at the union's headquarters. The local represents about 2,572 workers, but approximately 763 are agency fee-payers, meaning they pay the equivalent of dues but are not entitled to vote nor to some union benefits. When all potential members are included, the percentage that voted is about 19 percent.

DC 37 as a whole has about 17 percent agency fee-payers. Mr. Rosenthal said the high number exists in his local because there is frequent turnover among a significant number of members who are seasonal and work between three and six months out of the year. He added that several people who came to vote were not listed as members but claimed they had signed cards. The local's president said that they were all allowed to sign new cards on the spot and vote.

"I'd like to thank the members for re-electing me," said Mr. Rosenthal. "I'm humbled. We had such a big turnout; every agency came out. It made me feel that the last 9 years were worth it."

Incumbent Thomas Testa beat challenger Philip Johansen, 380 to 103, for secretary-treasurer. Incumbent Clarice Wilson defeated Patrick Orna, 379 to 102, for recording secretary. Incumbent Vice Presidents Joseph Puleo, Steven Shaw, John Daprile and Marvin Robbins received 378, 359, 365 and 388 votes respectively. Challenger Edgardo Rios got 103 votes and William Little got 107 in the contest, where the top four vote-getters were the winners.