The Special Election for the office of Vice President for Legislative and Political Action opens Monday August 2, 2021 8:00 AM and will close Tuesday August 17, 2021 5:00 PM. You will receive your ballot from electionbuddy.com. Please look for the ballot in your email inbox and vote as soon as possible. You will receive reminders to vote every 48 hours until you vote.
Background
Office of Vice President for Legislative and Political Action (VP-LEG)
The VP-LEG is a new VP position, created in 2020 as the successor position to the chairperson of the Legislative and Political Action Committee. The VP-LEG works closely with its counterparts at the other AAUP Collective Bargaining Chapters on the AAUP-Oregon Legislative committee on matters of public policy that impact higher education faculty members in Oregon. Most activity in the position is concentrated to those periods when the Oregon legislature is in session; the upcoming sessions are approximately 2/1/22 - 2/28/22, and approximately 1/15/23 - 6/30/23. PSU-AAUP leadership has plans to provide for course releases in Winter 2022, Winter 2023 and Spring 2023 to enable the VP-LEG to actively participate in the legislative session and work with the AAUP-Oregon lobbyist. There is some activity between legislative sessions, but historically the work has been relatively limited.
The position is defined in the PSU-AAUP Constitution as follows:
"Vice President for Legislative and Political Action (VP-LEG) shall be responsible for the promotion of the chapter’s mission and objectives through legislative and political action. The Vice President shall recommend the appointment of the Legislative and Political Action Committee to the Executive Council and shall preside over the activities of the committee. The Vice President shall represent the chapter on legislative and political action with our affiliates and ensure our agreements with affiliates about legislative and political action are upheld. The Vice President shall make recommendations to the Executive Council on Association policies and strategies for legislative and political action, candidate endorsement, and government policy regarding higher education and faculty. The Vice President shall make recommendations to the Executive Council on positions for legislation and initiatives, endorsements on legislation, initiatives, and candidates, and shall ensure that the Executive Councils adopted positions and endorsements are communicated, as necessary. The Vice President shall organize lobbying efforts for chapter membership in concert with coalition partners and other organizations to support legislation and initiatives and candidates. The Vice President shall negotiate with government leaders about pending legislation as necessary based on Association positions and endorsements. The Vice President shall testify at public hearings and be available as a key resource to government bodies regarding higher education and faculty issues."
The VP-LEG is expected to attend all Executive Council meetings. The Executive Council meets Thursdays during the academic year from 12:00 to 1:30 PM, once per month during the summer, and in addition, there may be executive council retreats, or executive council trainings. The VP-LEG is also expected to attend all AAUP Leadership meetings, which occur approximately once per week.
The new Vice President for Legislative and Political Action will assume the duties of the office as soon as elected and as soon after that the Executive Council can administer the oath of office. The term of office will expire May 1, 2023.
CANDIDATES
VICE PRESIDENT FOR LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL ACTION (1 candidate for 1 open position for the balance of 2021-2023 term expiring May 1, 2023)
David Kinsella
PSU-AAUP Organizing Committee (2019-present), Collective Bargaining Team (2020-present), Political Science Unit Rep (2018-present), Strategic Communications Committee (2021), AAUP-PSUFA-Senate Academic Freedom Working Group (2021).
Professor, Political Science, Tenured
Our union is stronger when we supplement our solidarity work on campus with outreach to other AAUP chapters in the state to amplify our voice in Salem. I would very much like to take lead in these efforts on behalf of PSU-AAUP as VP for Legislative and Political Action. I have been working closely with other members of the PSU-AAUP leadership in both collective bargaining and organizing -- experience that will enable me to better represent the interests of our members while we engage in legislative and political affairs beyond campus. I am a professor of political science and have been a faithful member of our union since joining the PSU faculty in 2002. Aside from PSU-AAUP, my university service has included serving as Chair of Political Science and Chair of the Graduate Council, and I currently represent CUPA in the Faculty Senate.
[This statement was submitted by the nominee]
END BALLOT