In our member-run democratic union, members have many opportunities to run for office and have a seat in various boards and committees within Local 1671, AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE), AFSCME, and the AFL-CIO.

Our elections are conducted in accordance with Local 1671 constitution as well as the AFSCME Local Union Election Manual and the AFSCME Appendix D Elections Code.

Members can be nominated or nominate themselves. All nominees will be placed on the ballot unless they decline their nomination. Candidates may choose to send mailers in accordance with AFSCME Council 28's policy.

• Elections for Local 1671 Executive Board are conducted by Local 1671 in December of odd years.
• Elections for Local 1671 Trustees are conducted by Local 1671 in December in accordance with their terms in office.
• Elections for Delegates to the AFSCME Council 28 Public Service Policy Committee are conducted by Local 1671 in odd years after the WFSE bianual convention.
• Elections for AFSCME Council 28 Executive Board are conducted by the Public Service Policy Commitee in odd years after the AFSCME Council 28 Biannual Convention.
• Elections for Delegates to the AFSCME Biannual Convention are conducted by Local 1671 in the summer of even years.
• Elections for Delegates to the WFSE Biannual Convention are conducted by Local 1671 in the summer of odd years.

Local 1671 vacancies are filled by vote of the Executive Board pursuant to Article 4, Section 8 of our constitution.

• Elections for the Language Access Providers Bargaining Team are conducted by AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) in the fall of every odd year. Vacancies are filled by appointment of the AFSCME Council 28 President. You will find more information about this election on this website under Bargaining.

2021 ELECTIONS

Nominations closed on November 5, 2021, at 5 pm. 

Only the position for President had more than one nominee. Accordingly, the names of these nominees will be placed on a ballot that will be mailed to the membership for a vote no later than December 9, 2021. All other positions had only one nominee and therefore these nominees are elected by acclamation.

CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT:

Quan Tran 85 votes (83%) - Quan Tran elected.

Sixta Castillo 17 votes (17%)

• Sixta Castillo's Statement
• Quan Tran's Statement
• Elections Committee Report

There were two nominations for Trustee 3 position. This position is currently filled and therefore is not available for this year’s election.

District 3 and District 8 had no nominees and therefore these positions remain vacant. District 9 had two nominees but both declined in writing and therefore the position remains vacant. Pursuant to Article 6.8 of the Local 1671 Constitution, vacancies in office shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by vote of the executive board.

All other nominees accepted their nominations in writing. 

Public Service Policy Committee 2021 Election Results.
 

The positions of Chair, Vice-chair and Secretary are elected by the Public Service Policy Committee members in accordance to Article 5 of the Public Service Policy Committee consitution. The election of Council 28 Executive Board members from this committee shall be in accordance with the AFSCME Council 28 Constitution, the AFSCME International Elections Code and Article 5 of the Public Service Policy Committee Constitution.

INTERPRETERS UNITED

LOCAL 1671/AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE)

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Nominations due: November 5, 2021 by 5pm

Nominations are now open for Local 1671 elected positions. In order to be elected, that person must be nominated by a union member in good standing. You can nominate either yourself or an interpreter of your choice by sending an email to [email protected]. Here is a template for nominations:

I [Your First and Last Name and phone number] hereby nominate [First and Last Name, email and/or phone number] for the position of [position].

EXECUTIVE BOARD POSITIONS

These are our most visible and active elected leadership positions. Executive Board members meet monthly to set the local's agenda and make sure Local Business is handled properly. These positions are crucial to the success and vibrancy of the local. For a detailed description of each position’s duties, please consult Article VII of Local 1671’s Constitution or the Our Elections section on our website under the Join US tab.

You can nominate yourself or someone else by sending an email to [email protected]. Remember to first check with the person you are nominating whether they would like to run for elected office. If you are unsure of the person’s full name, email address or phone number, please contact the Secretary at Local1671[at]gmail.com. Below is a sample nomination email:

I [Your First and Last Name and phone number] hereby nominate [First and Last Name, email and/or phone number] for the position of [E-board position].

District Chairs can only be nominated by Local 1671 members residing in the same district. The interpreter’s primary residential address shall be used to determine to which District an interpreter belongs. Only in cases where the interpreter does not have a primary address shall post office mailing boxes be used for the basis of determining District membership. If an eligible interpreter lives outside of the State of Washington, they shall be considered part of the District with the county geographically nearest to their primary residence address. Below is a sample nomination email:

I [Your First and Last Name and phone number] belonging to District [X] hereby nominate [First and Last Name, email and/or phone number] for the position of District [X] Chair.

Except for District Chairs, all other positions can be nominated by Local 1671 members regardless of where they reside.

TRUSTEE POSITIONS

The trustees shall make or cause to be made at least semi-annually an audit of the finances of Local 1671, and shall report to the membership on the results of such audit. Any Local 1671 member can nominate any member, including themselves, for each of these positions. Below is a sample nomination email:

I [Your First and Last Name and phone number] hereby nominate [First and Last Name, email and/or phone number] for the position of Trustee [Position 1 or 2 or 3].

NOTICE OF ELECTION

Ballots due: December 29, 2021 by 5 pm

INTERPRETERS UNITED

LOCAL 1671/AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE)

Nominations and Elections Timeline & Procedure

Elections for positions on the Local 1671 Executive Board and Trustees will be by mail in ballot in accordance with the following AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) procedure:

1)   Those eligible to nominate, be nominated, vote, and serve will be Local 1671 members in good standing. Members may self-nominate.

2)   The following position(s) are up for election:

3)   Candidates will be nominated and elected by Local 1671 members as follows:

a)   District Chairs can only be nominated by Local 1671 members residing in the same district.

b)   All other positions can be nominated by Local 1671 members regardless of where they reside.

4)   Call for nominations will be emailed and/or mailed to all eligible Local 1671 members no later than October 8, 2021.

5)   Nomination forms must be filled in completely and must include all required information as indicated on the official nomination form. Local 1671 members are encouraged to contact Local 1671 Secretary for missing information. Nominations received without the required information will not be accepted.

6)   Information on the nomination form must be legible.

7)   Nominations may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300 Olympia, WA 98501 and must be received at AFSCME (WFSE) 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300 Olympia, WA 98501 or submitted online no later than November 5, 2021 by 5 pm.

8)   An attempt will be made to contact each nominee (unless self-nominated) to give him/her the opportunity to decline the nomination. If the nominee declines the nomination, his/her name will not be placed on the ballot. If they do not respond to the inquiry regarding the acceptance of the nomination, they will automatically be placed on the ballot.

9)   Pursuant to Appendix D of the AFSCME International Constitution, any member who has been nominated for office or who announces an intention to run for office has the right to one mailing to the membership made through the union office before the election. This mailing is not to be made at the union’s expense. Note that the right is “the right to mail,” not “the right to print.” The candidate must prepare the materials to be mailed, furnish the envelopes, do the stuffing and sealing, and put on the stamps or furnish the money to pay for the mailing meter charge. The candidate must, in effect, furnish everything but the names and addresses. All the union is required to do is address and mail the material. Even here, if there is expense connected with the addressing, it must be borne by the candidate or the candidate’s supporters. Note also that the candidate is not entitled to a mailing list for the candidate’s own use. Candidates wishing to do the mailing must contact AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) and make the necessary arrangements with AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE).

10) Those eligible to vote will be the same as those eligible to nominate and be nominated.

11) If there are equal to or fewer nominees than a position to be filled is allowed, then no balloting will be required, and the nominees will be declared elected by acclamation.

12) If an election is required, it will be by mail ballot. Ballots will be mailed by AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) no later than December 9, 2021. The ballot will include the names of eligible nominees in alphabetical order. Included in the mailing with the ballots will be a privacy envelope and a self-addressed postage paid envelope for their return.

13) All ballots need to be returned using the two envelopes provided. The inner “ballot” envelope ensures and maintains the confidentiality of the ballots while the outer “mailing” envelope allows for each person voting to be identified as eligible to vote. The outside envelope must bear the voter’s full name and address.

14) The election’s results shall be determined by the highest number of votes cast per nominee and shall not require a majority of the votes cast. Ties will be decided by run off.

15) Pursuant to Article 6.4 of the Local 1671 Constitution, all ballots must be received at AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300 Olympia, WA 9850 no later than Wednesday December 29, 2021 by 5 pm.

16) Ballots will be counted at AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) 1212 Jefferson Street SE #300 Olympia, WA 98501 no later than Saturday January 8, 2022.

17) Any nominee whose name is to appear on the ballot may have an official observer of his/her own choosing present in the location ballots bearing his/her name are to be counted. Observers must be AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) members in good standing. The nominee shall notify the Elections Committee by email at [email protected] of his or her choice of observer no later than December 20, 2021 by 5 pm.

18) Individuals elected without a run off will be notified in writing no later than December 6, 2021. The results of the elections will be published on the Interpreters United Local 1671 and AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) website. Results will be available for inquiry at AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) Headquarters.

19) Any protest concerning the conduct of the election must be received, in writing, at AFSCME Council 28 (WFSE) Headquarters addressed to the Local 1671 Elections Committee by January 15, 2022 by 5 pm.

Disclaimer: Pursuant to AFSCME International Constitution, Appendix D, Section 2.B., no member of the Elections Committee may be a candidate for office.

[Approved by the Local 1671 Executive Board on August 10, 2021.]