Members in good standing vote on seven referenda in AMO's first all-electronic union-wide balloting
In union-wide votes on seven referenda concluding at 1200 EDT on June 30 in the union's first all-electronic balloting, members of American Maritime Officers in good standing voted to ratify two decisions of AMO trial committees and to ratify five AMO National Executive Board decisions regarding AMO trial committee decisions that had been appealed.
As a result of the 657-198 vote in favor of ratifying the National Executive Board's decision to accept the decision of an AMO trial committee on impeachment charges brought by AMO National Vice President, Inland Waters, Danny Robichaux, Charles Murdock has been dismissed from office as AMO National Secretary-Treasurer and barred from holding any office, positions or employment in AMO. Based on the trial committee's decision, which was accepted on appeal by the AMO National Executive Board and ratified by a vote of AMO members in good standing (as noted above), Murdock has not been expelled from the membership of AMO.
The balloting process was conducted by impartial third-party election administrator TrueBallot, Inc., which contacted AMO members in good standing via email throughout the balloting period to provide online access to information regarding each of the seven referenda and a Web-based ballot with which to cast a vote on each of the seven decisions. The first email notifications were sent by TrueBallot on June 7 and voting concluded at 1200 EDT on June 30.
As reported by TrueBallot, a total of 864 AMO members in good standing cast online ballots out of 1,982 ballots sent. For the seven decisions on the ballot, the vote tallies were as follows:
1. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Charles Murdock against Paul Doell - Trial Committee: Christian Spain, Mike Finnigan and Danny Robichaux
The Trial Committee recommended dismissal of all charges except for one violation, specifically that it was a violation of the AMO National Constitution for President Doell not to have called Executive Committee Meetings twice a year during the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. For this violation, the Trial Committee recommended censure. The Trial Committee did not recommend suspension or dismissal from office. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 736
- Voting not to ratify: 108
2. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Charles Murdock against Mike Finnigan - Trial Committee: Christian Spain, John Clemons and Danny Robichaux
The Trial Committee found NO violation and recommended dismissal of all charges. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 770
- Voting not to ratify: 74
3. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Charles Murdock against Joe Gremelsbacker - Trial Committee: Christian Spain, Mike Finnigan and John Clemons
The Trial Committee found NO violation and recommended dismissal of all charges. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous. Charles Murdock filed an appeal to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board ACCEPTED the Trial Committee's decision. The NEB decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 752
- Voting not to ratify: 93
4. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Charles Murdock against Danny Robichaux - Trial Committee: Christian Spain, Mike Finnigan and John Clemons
The Trial Committee found NO violation and recommended dismissal of all charges. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous. Charles Murdock filed an appeal to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board ACCEPTED the Trial Committee's decision. The NEB decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 755
- Voting not to ratify: 90
5. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Charles Murdock against John Clemons - Trial Committee: Christian Spain, Mike Finnigan and Danny Robichaux
The Trial Committee found NO violation and recommended dismissal of all charges. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous. Charles Murdock filed an appeal to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board ACCEPTED the Trial Committee's decision. The NEB decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 759
- Voting not to ratify: 88
6. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Charles Murdock against Christian Spain - Trial Committee: Danny Robichaux, Mike Finnigan and John Clemons
The Trial Committee found NO violation and recommended dismissal of all charges. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous. Charles Murdock filed an appeal to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board ACCEPTED the Trial Committee's decision. The NEB decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 761
- Voting not to ratify: 85
7. The Trial Committee Decision on the Impeachment Charges brought by Danny Robichaux against Charles Murdock - Trial Committee: Christian Spain, Mike Finnigan and John Clemons
The Trial Committee found that Secretary-Treasurer Murdock violated the AMO National Constitution by failing to take charge of the collection of all Union funds and allowed the dues and initiation arrearage to increase from $438,245 to $1,811,501 during the period of 2017-2021. The Trial Committee recommended that Secretary-Treasurer Murdock be dismissed from office and barred from holding any office, positions or employment in the AMO. The Trial Committee does not recommend the expulsion of Charles Murdock from membership of the AMO. The Trial Committee's decision was unanimous. Charles Murdock filed an appeal to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board ACCEPTED the Trial Committee's decision. The NEB decision was unanimous.
- Voting to ratify: 657
- Voting not to ratify: 198
These referenda brought important administrative matters to an end in absolute compliance with Article XXIII of the AMO National Constitution (Impeachment and Removal from Office of Elected National Officers and National Executive Board Members).
Final report of TrueBallot, Inc.
View complete TrueBallot, Inc. report
July 1, 2021
American Maritime Officers
601 S. Federal Highway
Dania Beach, FL 33004-4109
Re: Certificate of Result for:
AMO Trial Ratification Referendum 1252101
Ballot Concluded at 12:00.01 p.m. June 30, 2021
Dear Sir:
TrueBallot, Inc. was appointed Election Administrator to supervise the conduct of the Ballot with respect to the Trial Ratification questions. The ballot was tabulated 12:00.01 p.m. June 30, 2021.
The ballot and materials were approved as to form. A total of 1982 ballots were sent to the general membership via email. Reminder emails were sent to voters who had not already voted on June 11, June 14, June 18, June 21, June 23, 2021
Voters received a random, 6 digit PIN number via email, along with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) to the voting site landing page, on which was posted documents related to the referendum. Voters clicked to go to a login page, where they entered their PIN number, were shown the ballot, entered their choices by clicking the response to each question, and then "submitted" the ballot. Voters received a confirmation screen and a confirmation email, confirming that their vote had been cast.
Additional duplicate email notices were sent to 16 voters upon request of the voter. The balloting period was from June 7, 2021 at 12:00:01 AM to 12:00:01 PM. on June 30, 2021.
864 ballots were cast and counted.
The results of the Balloting are herewith certified and are attached hereto.
It is our opinion as Election Administrator that the results of the Balloting are true and accurate, the Ballots were properly counted, and rigid safeguards were maintained to protect the secrecy of the Ballot. At the conclusion of the counting, all data was downloaded and stored by TrueBallot.
Respectfully submitted,
TrueBallot, Inc.
By: John Seibel
President