Special Election Issue

The current officers have now served two years and once more, in accordance
with the By-laws of the Association, we must elect new officers to see us forward
into uncertain times. Their job will be difficult, given the current budget and the
projected budget. We will need strong leadership. However, SEA is only as strong as
its members are willing to be active and voting is one of those activities. We need
your participation. This year we have two contested offices and they are the office
of First Vice President and the office of Treasurer. Please take time to read what
each candidate has to say about their goals for SEA in this special Newsletter. The
actual ballot will follow this special Newsletter on the candidates. The ballot should
arrive by August 21st. Please follow the voting directions for returning your ballot and
be sure to have it postmarked by August 31st.
Bob Schaefer
Chair, Nominating Committee

CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT
TIMOTHY R. HANLEY

HELLO, with your vote, I would like to continue to serve as your State President!
I am Tim Hanley, a Civil Engineer - Senior, with the Department of Transportation (DOT) District 4
Office in Wisconsin Rapids. Wow! The last two years serving as your president have gone by fast!!
 

Review of goals from the 2000 election - set new goals:
1) Continue to promote membership involvement in the organization and on the political front - building on our past successes. We had two positive Visit the Hill Days - more members got involved, we've had an impact on the political process. As an organization we've grown in understanding and activity.
Goal: Continue promoting involvement- it's good for the members and the organization. Plan
to do a VHD each year as a minimum.

2) Visit each section to listen and talk with members
Visited 9 of the 11 sections - we were not able to get our schedules to work out for visits to Green Bay and
Rhinelander. Enjoyed this opportunity to listen and talk with members.
Goal: Repeat. It is important to visit the members and hear their concerns first hand -
valuable for leadership of the organization.

3) Ask that all members strive to be the best both technically and professionally. Standard theme in every newsletter we need to have high expectation to succeed.
Goal: Continue with this theme.

4) Ensure that members are well represented at bargaining. We've put together a talented bargaining
team, which understands the organization, is prepared to bargain, and willing to work hard to represent the
membership. The political climate has made bargaining difficult. We're committed to get a fair contract
for our membership. Provided bargaining updates to section presidents within 24 hours of bargaining
session.
Goal: Repeat

5) Lead, organized monthly board meetings, which encourage involvement and input from each section -
positive comments from the section presidents on how board meetings are conducted.
Goal: Repeat

If you like how the organization has been lead the last two years I would like your vote. My past
experiences at all levels of SEA provide me a strong understanding of the organization and the challenges it
faces. I'll provide a positive, common sense approach to lead tile organization. We must all work
together to make SEA a strong organization. It all starts with your vote! Vote HANLEY STATE PRESIDENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
MARK KLIPSTEIN

My name is Mark Klipstein and I am running for my second term as First Vice President
of the State Engineering Association.

I am a Civil Engineer Transportation-.Advanced working at the Department of
Transportation in District 2, Waukesha. I've been a member of SEA since starting with
the DOT in May of 1988. I have served the Southeast Section by holding positions as
Trustee. Vice President and President from 1992-1999. In the fall of 1999, SEA
Executive Board appointed me into my current position and I was elected after the 2000
elections to continue to serve in this position.

In my last term I was proud to be apart of SEA success in winning mileage, meal and
lodging rate grievances and most important the long awaited thirty cent add-on
grievances. Also there were many successful individual grievances.

Some of my goals in the upcoming term would be:

First, since the primary duty of First Vice President is to act as the Statewide Grievance
Officer, I would like to continue to strive to reduce the number of long standing
grievances and to shorten the timeline at the arbitration level.

Second, I would like to hold a grievance class to educate members of the grievance
process and be a knowledgeable resource for its members.

Third, I would like to serve again on the bargaining team. I believe in working for fair
market pay for our membership. This will not be easy but we must be patient in
persevering and I believe it can be accomplished one contract at a time.

I would like the: opportunity to continue serving SEA as First Vice President and to again
contribute to our Association. Also, I would like to ask everyone to please vote and be an
active member to keep the SEA a strong organization.

Please vote Mark Klipstein in the upcoming election.

Thank you
 

CANDIDATE FOR FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
KHADER ABU AL-EIS

I'm a Civil Engineer Advanced with the Department of Transportation in the
Central Office (Truax Center). I have been employed with the DOT since
1989 and have been an active SEA member since that time. I was a former
President of DOT - District 1. I'm a candidate for the position of First Vice
President of SEA. My experience with SEA has been enjoyable, especially
dealing with grievances. I enjoyed solving several section grievances
successfully and continued to work on solving some others. Dealing with
grievances is very demanding and requires good negotiating skills. If elected,
I have these goals for the next two years: (I) I would like to reduce the number
of long standing grievances that we have on our files. Some of these grievances
have been waiting for over two years. It's time to resolve these grievances.
(2) Reduce the grievance process time and work with management to act on
every grievance within the time frame allowed in our contract. (3) Speed the
time to process grievances between Step I & 4. (4) In the current and upcoming
contract meetings, demand that our contract language be more simple and clear,
and eliminate any vague language that is subject to multiple interpretations. Finally,
I would like your support to serve SEA as the grievance officer. I had the experience
and the negotiating skills in handling grievances during my time as a Section President.
I have become familiar with both the discipline and grievance process.

I ask for your vote in the upcoming election so that I can continue to serve SEA.

CANDIDATE FOR SECRETARY
JOHN S. BOLKA

I am John Bolka, and I would like your vote for SEA Secretary. I am a Civil Engineer
working in the DOT Waukesha Office and have been with the DOT for over 17 years and
a very active SEA member the entire time. I currently hold statewide office as the SEA
Treasurer and have held Section positions as President, Vice President, and
Secretary/Treasurer. I enjoy being involved and have attended all three VHD events, and
even testified at last spring's Senate hearings concerning the State Budget.

I can't promise my Secretarial duties will be that much different or better than my
predecessors', or that they will save the entire organization, but if you elect me you are
sure to get someone who cares and gets involved.

Vote John Bolka for Statewide Secretary!

CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER
DUANE D. HUBELER

My name is Duane Hubeler and I'm running for the office of Treasurer of SEA. I'm a
registered Mechanical Engineer - Advanced working in the Department of Commerce in
Madison. where I develop and amend a wide variety of administrative rules. I've been a
state employee for 15 years and an active member of SEA since joining the Safety &
Buildings Division 12 years ago. I currently serve as a Trustee in the State Agencies
Section. The State Agencies Section is unique in that our members come from a large
number of state agencies, each with their own unique cultures, management styles and
needs. Working with this diversity has given me valuable insight into the wide variety of
issues our Association deals with.

John Bolka has done a great job in automating and normalizing some very complex
procedures and processes. I look forward to continuing his work with the aim of
simplifying and streamlining our processes.

On a personal note, I have a trivial mind that is very good at remembering names, places
and figures and I have been accused more than once (by people of questionable character)
of being at least borderline anally retentive. Hey, what else could you ask for in a
candidate for Treasurer?

I understand that the Treasurer position is very demanding but I look forward to the
challenge. I believe it is important to get new blood on the State Board and active in the
Association as a whole. I ask for your vote in the upcoming election.

CANDIDATE FOR TREASURER
NILE A. OSTENSO
 

With you support, I would like to serve as your State Treasurer!
The office of Treasurer insures the smooth internal operation of SEA by keeping track of membership,
developing our annual budget. receiving dues and distributing dues to the SEA Sections, paying bills and
other operational expenses, book keeping and reporting on membership and financial status. Past treasurers
have done an outstanding job, a tradition I pledge to continue if elected. My goal is to improve on their
past accomplishments. My past experience will be an invaluable asset in this respect.

I am a Water Resources Engineer with the Department of Natural Resources in Madison. My membership
in SEA dates back to 1984. Over the years I served 2-terms as DNR Section President, 2-terms as State
Second Vice president and as a member of five bargaining teams, including the present one. These many
years working on the SEA Board and with its many issues are strengths I would bring to the position.

SEA's role in bargaining our contract, promoting and protecting our member's interests, and Visit the Hill
Days, all show how important SEA is to Slate Service and our future. I would like to take this
opportunity to say your support for SEA is greatly appreciated and essential to continue our success. This
is a very important time in Wisconsin government Stay informed and express your concerns to your
elected representatives and vote this September and November.

In closing, I am very excited about the prospect of being elected your next Treasurer and your consideration
of my candidacy is greatly appreciated.
 

CANDIDATE FOR SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
LARRY LEGRO
I am an Engineering Specialist with DHFS-Radiation Protection unit. I have 24 years of employment with
the State of WI. I am a past President and Vice President of the State Agencies Section of SEA. I am
running as a candidate for a second (and final) term as your 2nd Vice President of the SEA Board. This
position is the legislative liaison for SEA. I have organized three Visit the Hill Days, written monthly
newsletter articles, gone to 100% of monthly meetings, met with our consultant, Dismas Becker, and
various legislators over the past two years, regarding issues that affect SEA. I spoke at the Senate Budget
hearings in March, giving testimony to the Senate panel regarding Contracting Out/Privatization of our
jobs, early retirement window (opposed), waste in government, and recruitment and retention problems
especially with layoffs and hiring freezes due to the sad state of this biennial budget (which as of this
writing was achieved, but not finalized as of yet). This budget bill is over 1 year late.

I promise to represent you all well, and I urge any of you to communicate any issues with your elected SEA
officers, and YOUR LEGISLATORS. Many of you wait until it is too late to speak up. All 1403 members
(and non-members) of SEA need to speak out and be heard. Government and corporate America are out of
control. You cannot trust your clergymen anymore. Legislators and others have lied to us while being
fiscally irresponsible. Government is now for sale to the highest bidder and accessibility is only for those
who can afford to "pay" the game. Private corporations along with their accounting firms have been
corrupted by greed and mismanagement. This affects your retirement investments in these corporations.
Even the Red Cross is corrupt. We are the voters, we can make a difference in who gets re-elected. I urge
you to mail in your ballot. Vote for those you feel will represent you the best.

I also urge you to attend the annual meeting of the membership to be hosted by the Rhinelander Section this
October 12th. Watch the newsletter or our new website for details.