GILBERT RETAINS SAG PRESIDENCY ACTRESS GETS 2ND TERM DESPITE AFTRA DEFEAT.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer Melissa Gilbert won a second term as president of the Screen Actors Guild on Tuesday, defeating frequent union nemesis Kent McCord Kent McCord (born September 26, 1942) is an American actor. McCord was born Kent Franklin McWhirter in Los Angeles, California. Using the stage name Kent McCord, he first appeared on television in 1962 as a guest on The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet. in a closely contested election. Gilbert, 39, joins such previous SAG presidents as Edward Asner Edward Asner (born November 15, 1929) is an American actor known for his Emmy-winning role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and later continued in a spinoff series, Lou Grant. , Patty Duke Patty Duke (born December 14, 1946) is an Academy Award-winning American actress of the stage and screen. She currently resides in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Childhood She was born Anna Marie Duke in Manhattan, New York, U.S. to an Irish American father, John P. , Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston and James Cagney in serving multiple terms as head of the 118,000-member union. The actress frequently appears in television movies and is best known for her role as Laura Ingalls on ``Little House on the Prairie.'' ``I'm very surprised, very pleased and very honored,'' an emotional Gilbert said moments after the results were announced Tuesday evening. ``I never take anything for granted, and the margin (of victory) was rather slim. I'm not surprised by the closeness.'' Gilbert won by garnering 50 percent of the vote to McCord's 42 percent. Commercial actor Gordon Drake came in a distant third with 7.6 percent. In all, 31,640 ballots were returned. Gilbert's win was a major victory for the faction of the union's leadership that favors consolidating SAG with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) is a performers' union that represents a wide variety of talent, including actors in radio and television, as well as radio and television announcers and newspersons, singers and recording artists (both royalty , a move they say would enhance union bargaining power. The results came on the same day that SAG and AFTRA AFTRA American Federation of Television & Radio Artists began negotiations for their television and radio commercials contracts, which will expire Oct. 29. Perhaps overshadowed by the California recall election, this latest SAG contest was markedly low-key compared with recent union contests, which were characterized by bitter infighting in·fight·ing n. 1. Contentious rivalry or disagreement among members of a group or organization: infighting on the President's staff. 2. Fighting or boxing at close range. brought on by deep philosophical divides. ``It was a very respectful election, a very quiet one,'' Gilbert said. ``We've all realized that one way or another we have to work together.'' Also victorious was Gilbert's running mate running mate n. 1. The candidate or nominee for the lesser of two closely associated political offices. 2. A companion. 3. A horse used to set the pace in a race for another horse. , James Cromwell, who was elected SAG's secretary-treasurer. Cromwell earned 48 percent of the votes, outdistancing McCord's running mate, Esai Morales Esai Morales (born October 1, 1962) is an actor perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Tony Rodriguez on the long-running ABC television police drama NYPD Blue. He also appeared in the PBS drama American Family and in the Showtime series Resurrection Blvd. of ``NYPD Blue,'' who received 43 percent. Lesser-known candidate Barbara Cheesborough garnered 7.5 percent of the votes cast. Cromwell is an Academy Award-nominated actor and was nominated for an Emmy award this year for his recurring role in the HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy series ``Six Feet Under.'' He was the top vote-getter when he was first elected to the SAG board two years ago. Cromwell released a statement Tuesday evening that said, in part, ``I believe it is the responsibility of the union to serve every member, regardless of their status, their income or their craft. I look forward to being of service.'' After the narrow defeat this year of the proposed SAG/AFTRA merger championed by Gilbert, some questioned whether the actress would run for a second term. But she said the closeness of that vote convinced her to run again. McCord was a driving force behind the defeat of the referendum, as well as an earlier Gilbert-backed proposed franchise agreement between SAG and the Association of Talent Agents voted down by members in April 2002. Gilbert said she planned to continue with her agenda, which includes another push for a merger with AFTRA. ``I will continue to do the best that I can, to the best of my ability,'' she said. Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: GILBERT |
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