Boilermakers' Marek New MBTC president
Boilermakers Local 169 Business Manager John Marek has been appointed to fill the two years remaining in the term of Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council President Sam T. Hart, who is retiring in September.

Marek's appointment was made by unanimous vote of the MBTC's Executive Board during the council's 46th annual convention, and announced to delegates on July 31.

The president of the Michigan Building Trades Council is not a full-time position, and Marek will stay on as business manager of Local 169. The MBTC president chairs and appoints committees, moderates conferences, and offers input on the operations of the council.

"I consider it a real honor to take over as president of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council," said Marek, 56, who has served as Local 169's business manager for the last decade. "I think we've had a lot of success at the Boilermakers during the last 10 years. We've worked hard to improve how we operate, and we've worked well with the other crafts. I hope to be an asset to the Michigan Building Trades by representing all the affiliates, and upholding the standards that have been set by Sam Hart."

Candidates endorsed for Sept. 9 primary
Some communities across Michigan will conduct primary elections on Tuesday, Sept. 9. A limited number of candidates endorsed by the Greater Detroit Building Trades Council are on various ballots, and they appear below.

Building trades union members are urged to research and vote for candidates who support organized labor.

• City of Allen Park, Mayor: Beverly Kelley, City Council: David Noel Babbage
• City of Dearborn Heights, City Council: Ned Apigian, Jim Izeluk
• City of Eastpointe, Mayor: David Austin
• City of Ferndale, City Council: +Michael Lennon
• City of Lincoln Park, Mayor: Steve Brown
• City of Roseville, City Council: John Chirkun, Harold Haugh, Richard Steenland
• City of Warren, Mayor Mark Steenburgh; City Council: Charles Busse, Donna Kaczor Caumartin, George Dimas, Anne Klein, Cecil St. Pierre
• City of Westland, City Council: Eleanor Pulido, William Wild