REAL EXPERIENCE, REAL INTEGRITY

As our campaign has grown and gained momentum over the past few weeks, it has become clear that my opponent, and the people she has engaged to represent her, have been resorting to casting empty aspersions and hollow criticisms that are very reminiscent of our recent federal election.  In my 28 years as a dedicated IAM member, I have held a variety of positions in the service of our great Union. My next endeavor is to fulfill the duties of one of the most important positions in the IAM, the office of General Secretary-Treasurer, and I believe it is important that you understand what qualifies me to hold that position. 
 
For the last 16+ years I have been a Financial Officer for the IAM.  During the first 10 years I served as Secretary-Treasurer of Local Lodge 1635.  After that, for the past 6 years and currently, I have served as the  Secretary-Treasurer of one of the IAM’s largest Districts, the 20,000+ strong Air Transport District Lodge 142. In fact, compared to my opponent and her predecessors, I am likely to be the most qualified and experienced candidate to ever seek the office of IAM General Secretary Treasurer. My service at both LL1635 and DL142 are beyond reproach and are publicly available for all to see.  If you have worked with me on any issue, you know that what I am saying is true. I have been a loyal IAM Secretary-Treasurer at every level of the IAM and an officer who has fought hard to protect and defend IAM members’ dues money.  I have not only followed, but more importantly, believed in and strived to protect the Constitution and the Association.
 
Now, compare that to the current GST, Dora Cervantes. Prior to her appointment as the IAM GST, she never spent one day as the head Financial Officer at any level of our union. You can verify this by checking her own bio.  And after she was appointed to the GST position, the IAM had to assign two different General Vice Presidents to be at her side to make sure she did the job. That plan failed miserably as Dora is now under scrutiny by the criminal division of the Department of Labor for attempting to cover up the theft of at least $100,000 of IAM members' dues money. The theft of IAM members’ dues happened in Dora’s home Local Lodge 2198 and her sister, Norma Ramirez, was Local Lodge 2198 President and who signed all the checks. 
 
I wouldn’t call any of the above “experience” or “integrity.” I call it inexperience and dishonor and possibly criminal.
 
I promise that I will never defraud this Union out of anything whatsoever, or allow it to be defrauded, if within my power to prevent it. To all of this, I most solemnly pledge my sacred word of honor.

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