Friday September 18, 2009

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA , EAST RE-ELECTS MICHAEL WINSHIP AS PRESIDENT

NEW YORK CITY – Members of the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) voted to re-elect all the incumbents running for Council.

Michael Winship, senior writer for Bill Moyers Journal, has been re-elected to a second term as President of the WGAE. Bob Schneider, a television and screen writer, was re-elected to a second term as Vice President. Gail Lee, a writer/producer at CBS News, was re-elected to her seventh term as Secretary-Treasurer. The terms begin immediately and run through September 2011. Both Winship and Lee ran unopposed.

“Once again, I am honored to have been chosen by the members of the Writers Guild East to serve as their president. I thank them for their support. Many of the issues and problems we have addressed over the past two years continue, but within them are opportunities to continue growing our union and to further the interests of Guild East members and writers everywhere. Working with our Council, staff and members I look forward to the challenge," said WGAE President Michael Winship.

There were 427 valid ballots cast in the election. Winship and Lee ran unopposed. Bob Schneider received 230 votes (53.9%) versus vice presidential candidates Tom Phillips who received 118 votes (27.6 %) and Ambrose J. Raftery who received 39 votes (9.1%).

The election also filled nine Council seats (six Freelance seats and three Staff seats). Re-elected as Freelance members on the Council were: Susan Kim (273*, 63.9%**), Pippin Parker (264, 61.8%), Tim Carvell (263, 61.6%), Adam Brooks (257, 60.2%), Melissa Salmons (246, 57.6%), and Courtney Simon (229, 53.6%).

Re-elected as Staff members on the Council were: Phil Pilato (265, 62.1%), Sue Brown (263, 61.6%), and Duane Tollison (260, 60.1%).

Editor’s Notes:* Votes cast for candidate** Percentage of valid ballots cast

Michael Winship Photo Credit: Robin Holland