February 12, 2008

UUP Delegates elect Smith statewide President

Delegates to the 2008 Winter Delegate Assembly elected Phillip Smith of Upstate Medical University as president of UUP. This was the first mid-term election for president and the largest policymaking convention in UUP’s 35-year history.

More than 340 delegates voted in the special election to choose between Smith and Fred Floss, who had been serving as UUP’s Acting President since Nov. 30. Of the valid ballots cast, Smith received 185 votes, Floss received 155. Floss — who had served since Nov. 30 as acting president following the resignation of long-time president William Scheuerman — will stay on as statewide vice president for academics.

“I am honored by the faith the delegates have placed in me to lead this great union,” Smith said. “I’m ready and eager to get to work on developing the skills of our new UUP leaders, strengthening our UUP chapters and continuing to advocate for the resources SUNY needs to be the greatest public university in the nation.”

Smith served as statewide vice president from 2000 to 2004, and as the union’s chief negotiator for the 2003-2007 bargaining agreement between UUP and New York state. He also served as president, vice president for academics and grievance officer for the Upstate Chapter.

“I congratulate Phil on a well-run campaign and wish him well as president,” Floss said.

Delegates also adopted seven resolutions, attended dozens of committee and constituency meetings, raised money for the UUP College Scholarship Fund and gave its annual Friend of SUNY Award to Sen. Catharine Young (R-Jamestown) and Assemblyman Peter Rivera (D-Bronx).

Check out the March issue of The Voice for more coverage and photos of the two-day convention.