by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — District 3 director and incumbent U.S. Trotting Association Chairman of the Board Ivan Axelrod will be challenged for the chairmanship by veteran District 8-A director Joe Faraldo when the USTA board convenes for its annual meeting in Columbus on March 13.

Both, in accordance with USTA bylaws, have filed letters indicating their candidacy for the position. USTA President Phil Langley was the only one to file for his position’s four-year term, which will be Langley’s third, and USTA Vice Chairman Russell Williams, Treasurer Richard Brandt, Jr. and Secretary Barbara Brooks also filed letters indicating their intention to return for another one-year term and will be unopposed.

Axelrod defeated Faraldo in an election in 2007, when the office was last contested, and Axelrod continued in the position in 2008 through 2010, when unopposed for the post.

The USTA chairman presides over meetings of the full board of directors, serves in the office of USTA president should it become vacant 60 days or less before the annual meeting is convened, is a member of the association’s executive committee and serves as its vice chairman — and thus presides when the USTA president is absent.