Richard Gulla poses with SEA President Diana Lacey after he won a special election to the SEA's Board of Directors on Thursday in Concord.
Richard Gulla, of Chapter 17, won a special election Thursday night to fill a vacant position on the Board of Directors of the State Employees’ Association/SEIU 1984. The vote came during the SEA’s quarterly Council Meeting at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord.
Gulla defeated Jo-Ann Keller, of Chapter 11, 36 votes to 30 votes. He fills the board position that was vacated when Betty Thomas was elected 2nd Vice President at the 72nd Annual Convention earlier this year.
“I’m pleasantly surprised and honored tonight to be elected to the Board of Directors,” Gulla said after his election. “I want to thank Jo-Ann and thank everyone here tonight. I”m looking forward to working with everyone and making things better for all state employees.”
Gulla has worked for the State Liquor Commission for nearly 15 years and has been an SEA member since he started. Since April, he has served as one of four stewards at the commission.
SEA President Diana Lacey said she was pleased that Gulla would be joining the board.
“He’s got 15 years of good, solid experience at the Liquor Commission and that’s an important part of state government,” Lacey said. “We think his voice will be very important on the board.”
Keller is an RN and nursing supervisor at the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton, where she serves as a steward. She has worked for the state for 14 years, spending the last two at the SEA headquarters as the health benefit member advocate.
No one was nominated for the open private sector seat on the board, which will remain vacant.