SEA chief re-elected to 6th year

Karen Langley reports in the Concord Monitor that SEA President Gary Smith has re-elected to another year at the head of the union.

Union delegates meeting in Nashua yesterday cast 120 votes for Smith and 93 votes for opponent Ed Hager, said SEA spokesman Mike Barwell.

The election was the outcome of a Department of Labor investigation into complaints made by Smith's opponents after the union elections last year. The Department of Labor and the union settled with no admission of fault and an agreement to hold new elections for the second year of the term.

Smith said yesterday the vote was a vindication.

"We ran a fair and open campaign and election last year. We ran a fair and open campaign and election this year," he said. "It ought to clear up any doubt about the veracity of our process."