by John Pawlak, marketing director, USTA

Columbus, OH — U.S. Trotting Association director J.D. Graham of Belleville, Ill., has indicated that he will not seek reelection after serving the balance of his current three-year term, which will end in February 2008. Thus the vacancy will prompt a membership election in USTA District 5, comprised of residents of the state of Illinois.

The position may be filled by any Association member — a driver, trainer, breeder, or owner — who is in good standing and who must be nominated by fellow members, and then stand for election against any other member who may be nominated in the same district. USTA directors are not compensated for their service, although they are reimbursed for expenses incurred in traveling to USTA annual district and national meetings.

The by-laws of the USTA, Article III, Section 5, state: “Nomination for Director shall be made by filing a written petition signed by at least 25 voting members from his district to be filed at the main office of the Association at Columbus, Ohio at least 50 days before the election. Nominating petitions forwarded by mail shall be by registered mail, return receipt requested and shall be considered filed as of the postmark date. All others shall be considered filed at the time they are actually received at the main office of the Association. In computing the 50-day period, the day of filing shall be counted and the day of the District Meeting excluded. The incumbent director shall automatically become a candidate unless at least 65 days prior to said election he files a written declination at the office of the Association.”

Though no other USTA directors have indicated they will not stand for reelection in 2008, the terms of several membership-elected directors will expire in 2008, and thus candidates may file for positions on the ballot in those districts.

These include District 1-Ohio (three positions, for which nominations should be postmarked not later than Nov. 30); District 2-Indiana (one, Dec. 7) and Michigan (one, Dec. 7); District-5 Illinois (two, Nov. 30); District 7-Pennsylvania (one, Sep. 28); and District 9-New England (one, Nov. 23).

Other vacancies may occur: If, for example, there would be a mid-term resignation such a vacancy would be publicized as early as possible in either Hoof Beats or on the USTA Web site.

Further information about petitions and the nomination procedure may be obtained by consulting the USTA By-Laws, available online at http://www.ustrotting.com/pdf/USTARuleBook06.pdf, or by calling the USTA at (877) 800-USTA, ext. 3209.