Allen reelected Washington State Legislative Board Chairman
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, December 22 — Brother Shahraim C. Allen was reelected by acclamation to his second term as Chairman of the Washington State Legislative Board at its quadrennial meeting held in SeaTac, Wash., on November 16, 2016.
Brother Allen is a member of BLET Division 238 (Tacoma, Wash.) who joined the Brotherhood on June 1, 2001. He was first elected Chairman of the Washington State Legislative Board at the quadrennial meeting in 2012. Also, he currently serves as Legislative Representative of Division 238, an office he has held since 2006. In 1994, he hired out as a switchman for the Burlington Northern, earning promotion to locomotive engineer on December 20, 1995.
Also elected were: 1st Vice Chairman Robert D. Holton, Division 104 (Spokane, Wash.); 2nd Vice Chairman and Alternate Secretary-Treasurer Dylan D. Ekins, Division 443 (Spokane, Wash.); and Secretary-Treasurer, J.D. (Danny) Bergman, Division 238 (Tacoma, Wash.).
Vice President and National Legislative Representative John P. Tolman represented the BLET National Division at the meeting. Brother Tolman was pleasantly surprised when the State Board presented him with an “Outstanding Service” plaque.
“I am proud to congratulate Brother Allen and all officers of the Washington State Legislative Board,” BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce said. “I also thank them for their dedication and willingness to serve our Brotherhood.”
Guest speakers included: Kimberly L. Klontz, a member of BLET Division 238 and historian of the Washington State Legislative Board; State Representative Derek Stanford (D-1); Vicky Coleman, retired Supervisory Investigator with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); Kirk Fredrickson, Washington State Department of Transportation – Rail Division; Jason Lewis, Senior Policy Advisor with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC); Wayne Senter, Executive Director of Washington Fire Chiefs; Harold Scoggins, City of Seattle Fire Chief; Ed McCullough, Federal Railroad Administration Region 8 Operations Specialist; and other FRA Region 8 Signal, Motive Power and Equipment Specialist(s).
Brother Allen said, “The last four years have been challenging and a great learning experience as Chairman of the Board and when working on special assignments for the BLET National Division. In all, I truly enjoy what I do and I appreciate the knowledge shared and relationships established by all those associated with the National Association of State Legislative Board Chairmen.”
The Washington State Legislative Board represents approximately 850 members in nine Divisions.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
bentley@ble-t.org