June 17, 2013
By Diane Cohen
New York, NY – Actor Esai has publicly announced his intention to run for SAG-AFTRA President against Ken Howard. Morales, is currently appearing in the new Starz series "Magic City," and is a national board member of SAG-AFTRA. The newly-merged union holds its first combined election in July. Ballots for the national elections will go out July 16 and the deadline for their return is August 15. The president, secretary-treasurer and the majority of the board seats will be filled.
SAG-AFTRA co-president Ken Howard is seeking a two-year term as president of the organization which is holding its first election now. “It seems like the best thing to finish the work during this transition period,” he told Variety. “I’ve been very pleased with how the merger has gone so far.” Howard was first elected SAG President in 2009, and re-elected in 2011.
Howard and Roberta Reardon have been co-presidents of SAG-AFTRA since March, 2012, when members approved the merger of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
Reardon will not be running in this election. Howard was the final SAG president and Reardon was the final AFTRA president.
SAG-AFTRA members recently ratified a three-year commercials contract with 96% support. The union's contract with the studios and networks that covers feature films and primetime TV, expires roughly a year from now.
