MEA Officers Update

MEA President Tony Ruiz has decided to step down from his office due to personal reasons. He will maintain an active role at MEA and continue to serve on the Board of Directors, but Tony determined that it was best for his family and for MEA to step away from the office of President. Tony has served on MEA’s Executive Committee and Negotiating Team for 8 years and on the Board of Directors for 9 years. MEA members owe Tony a debt of gratitude for all of his years of service, his many contributions to our Union family, and for his leadership during challenging times.

Per MEA’s Bylaws, First Vice President Bob Cronk has assumed the office of President of MEA for the remainder of the current term. Bob has served as First Vice President for 4 years, has been on the Executive Committee for 6 years and has been on the Board of Directors for 8 years. Bob is extremely experienced, knowledgeable and ready to continue to lead MEA forward as an organization, making this transition a seamless one. We want to acknowledge Tony Ruiz for his countless contributions to MEA and his fellow City employees, and to thank Bob Cronk for stepping up.

In other MEA Officers’ news, we offer hearty (but bittersweet) congratulations to MEA Secretary Kyle Wiggins, who recently announced her retirement from the City after 31 faithful years. Kyle has been a longtime leader at MEA and has served on the Board of Directors for nearly 2 decades, as well as the Executive Committee and as Secretary for the last 4 years. We have been so lucky to have Kyle with us for so long and we wish her all the best as she embarks on this very well deserved next chapter of her life.

Executive Committee Member Leslie Simmons has been appointed to assume the duties of MEA Secretary for the remainder of the current term. Leslie has previously served as Secretary and has been on the Board of Directors for 13 years, on the Negotiating Team for 12 years and on numerous MEA committees throughout the last 5 years. We know that Leslie’s experience and commitment to our Union will continue to serve MEA well, and we also appreciate her willingness to step up to perform the duties of Secretary.

The great strides that this organization has been able to make are a direct result of leaders like Tony, Kyle, Bob and Leslie. Thank you again for your service!