Posted: January 10, 2004

Triathlon: USA Triathlon Board of Directors Votes to Let 2003 Election Stand

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 9, 2004) - After considering a complaint lodged by four candidates in the 2003 USA Triathlon Board of Directors election, the USA Triathlon Board of Directors voted 5-2 Thursday to let the election results stand.

The complaint, as filed by 2003 Board candidates Karen Buxton (Greensboro, N.C.), John Duke (Cardiff, Calif.), Mike Greer (Canyon, Texas) and Robert Vigorito (Columbia, Md.), alleged that USA Triathlon bylaws were violated in the conduct of the election. They contended that technical aspects for approval of the election process were not completed.

Had the complainants been successful, part or all of the 2003 election most likely would have been rerun.

Thursday's discussion and vote were done in a telephone conference call that was run by Tucson, Ariz., lawyer and former USA Triathlon Board president Jonathan Grinder. Four current members of the Board who were candidates in the 2003 election - Valerie Ellsworth-Gattis (Louisville, Ky.), Jim Girand (Palo Alto, Calif.), Diane Travis (Clermont, Fla.) and Jack Weiss (Euless, Texas) - were not permitted to participate in the discussion or voting. However these four members and three of the four complainants did listen in on the call.

Two other members of the 2003 Board - Eric Schwartz (Boulder, Colo.) and Amanda Pagon (Glenn Dale, Md.), both elite athlete representatives who did not run for re-election - had a voice in the discussion, but no vote.

Those voting in favor of the complainants were Brad Davison (Austin, Texas) and Ray Plotecia (Ruxton, Md.). Those voting against were Eric Bean (Palo Alto, Calif.), Tim Becker (Seattle, Wash.), Kevin Carter (Silver Spring, Md.), Susie Gallucci (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Fred Sommer (Clermont, Fla.).

In discussing the complaint, the Board members all acknowledged that there were election deficiencies and that major modifications would be implemented immediately for future elections.

However, those that voted against the complaint contended that all 2003 candidates operated under the same election rules and had the same ability to be elected. The system used in the 2003 election (to select directors for the 2004-05 term) was similar to election procedures held over the past several years.