David Aldis (Candidate for the Executive Board): I have worked at LLNL for 15 years in the Chemistry and Material Science and Engineering directorates. I would like to help SPSE make LLNL a better place to work.

Douglas B. Clarke (Candidate for Secretary): After being an interested observer for a number of years, I joined SPSE when Lab management introduced the new Layoff Policy. That policy and the issue of adherence to University personnel policies are examples of cases where Lab Management has seeming felt free to make their own rules. Although my own personal experiences at LLNL have generally been positive, I am concerned about the po-tential for abuses by managers with the Lab's present policies governing treatment of employees. I intend to do my best to help strengthen SPSE and further its work.

Jeff Colvin (Candidate for UPTE Representative): I am a physicist who has been working in the UC labs for nearly 20 years. I have been an outspoken advocate for employee rights for my entire working life. During Year 2000 as a member of the Board I led the effort on the employee survey that identified the key issues of concern to employees. Over the past two years, first as President-elect and this year as President, I have led the effort to ex-pand our member outreach and information efforts, based on the survey results, and to increase the membership. This effort expanded into a campaign to win the agreement of the membership on an affiliation with UPTE, which was successful. With help from our new UPTE/CWA colleagues we have organized campaigns aimed at increasing our membership; this year marks the first year since 1986 that SPSE has shown a net positive growth in the member-ship, thanks to the UPTE affiliation. SPSE is now developing strategies with UPTE on how best to give voice to employees to compel management to abolish, or at least open up, the rank ordering process. This work is only just beginning, and I now solicit your approval to be SPSE's representative on the UPTE Executive Board, where I can guarantee that our voice is heard on those issues of most concern to our members. I will also continue to work to undo the damage done by the various changes to personnel policies over the past few years (particularly the growing reliance by management on temp and flex term employees); explore ways for SPSE to provide active help to EBAs in finding other suitable assignments within the Lab; continue to push for SPSE to take a strong public stand in opposing all forms of discrimination, ethnic profiling, anti-foreigner hysteria, and all attempts to undo the protec-tions of minority employees built into Affirmative Action laws; and continue our fight to abolish screening poly-graph testing at the Labs.

Jane Dignon (Candidate for Treasurer): I have served for 3 years on the board, and this past year as secretary of SPSE. I hope to continue in serving you next year as treasurer. SPSE is an important watch dog organization at LLNL for alerting and informing both Lab employees and the community.

Lynn Lewis: (Candidate for the Executive Board): In the twenty-six years since coming to work at LLNL, I have grown to appreciate the significant role SPSE has consistently played in making LLNL a good place to work. Now we are, again, faced with new challenges for workplace quality improvement. As a member of the board, I will work to normalize the performance appraisal and compensation process by exposing those practices that, when left unchecked, allow management to avoid accountability for its ac-tions. Of particular importance are management policies and practices regarding work assignment (Employee Between Assignments ­ EBA) and "at will", second class, (Flexible-Term) employee status.

Jayne Tonowski (Candidate for the Executive Board): I've been employed at LLNL for over 12 years in many capacities and have benefited from the work of SPSE. As a member of the Executive Board, I plan to continue that work and also bring a new spin to further the cause of all employees at LLNL.

Kim Yates (Candidate for President-elect): One of the main reasons LLNL is a good place to work is the existence of SPSE. We all like to try to handle our problems individually, but sometimes an injustice is so broad or we run into institutionalized resistance that is so arrayed against us that it is becomes essential to band to-gether with our colleagues. I am a Computer Scientist in the Center for Applied Scientific Computing, with 16 years serv-ice time at LLNL. I currently serve on the Executive Board of SPSE. Having seen SPSE from the inside, I am in-spired by the effort the members put forth and the importance of continuing SPSE's vigilance. I am in favor of the recent alliance with UPTE and recent efforts to increase SPSE membership. If elected to the post of President-elect I will work with the Board and the membership to protect and improve the quality of our working lives as well as our compensation and benefits.