Inside the Bar
December 2003

State Bar announces candidates for 2004 elections

D. Michael Guerin and Thomas L. Shriner Jr., both of Milwaukee, have accepted nominations to run for 2004 State Bar president-elect. Guerin, with Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, and Shriner, with Foley & Lardner, were selected by the State Bar Nominating Committee, which is chaired by State Bar President-elect Michelle Behnke.

D. Michael Guerin

Thomas L. Shriner, Jr.

Nominees for secretary are William C. Hess, Wausau, and Gretchen G. Viney, Baraboo. Nominees for Judicial Council are Beth Ermatinger Hanan, Milwaukee, and Thomas D. Zilavy, Madison.

"I am proud to be a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and honored to be a candidate for president-elect," says Guerin. "Lawyers are honorable, dedicated professionals who strive to provide quality legal services, regardless of whether their clients are governmental agencies, Fortune 500 companies, or private citizens. I believe the State Bar must be relevant to all members. The State Bar president must guide Bar leadership to identify the core issues important to all lawyers and lead the effort to direct the Bar's activities toward those issues. Then, by working together, Bar members can improve our practices, our communities, and our lives. Our actions, not merely our words, enhance the image of our profession."

"I am grateful for the opportunity to run for State Bar president-elect," says Shriner. "The Bar regularly confronts issues that really ask, 'What do we lawyers want the State Bar to be and do for us?' The answer to this question should drive resolution of issues ranging from policy advocacy activities to governance structures to the appropriate level of dues. I approach this question with a good understanding, from experience, of what the Bar is, not a ready answer of what it should be. I would welcome the chance to lead a dialogue by which we lawyers could explore and answer this question for ourselves."

The president-elect serves a one-year term before becoming president. The secretary serves two years, and the Judicial Council representative serves three years. Members interested in running for one of these offices can run by filing a petition signed by 100 active Bar members. Petitions must be filed at the State Bar by Feb. 2.

Board of Governors. Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 elect governors in 2004. District 2 elects six governors; District 9 elects three governors, and all other districts elect one governor. Governors serve two-year terms. (See district map.) To be considered for a seat on the Board of Governors, a member must submit a petition signed by 10 active members in his or her district by March 1.

For more information or to receive a State Bar officer or Board of Governors petition, contact at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106, (608) 250-6106. Send petitions to the State Bar in care of Marks.

Divisions. The State Bar's Government Lawyers (GLD), Nonresident Lawyers (NRLD), Senior Lawyers (SLD), and Young Lawyers (YLD) divisions are selecting candidates to run in their 2004 elections.

GLD members will choose three division directors to serve two-year terms. Interested GLD members are invited to write to the GLD Nominating Committee in care of the State Bar by Feb. 2.

NRLD members will choose a president-elect for a one-year term and five directors to serve two-year terms. Only active and emeritus-status NRLD members can run for these positions. Interested NRLD members should send their resumes and letters of interest to the NRLD Nominating Committee Chair in care of the State Bar by Jan. 15.

SLD members will choose a president-elect for a one-year term, a treasurer for a two-year term, and three directors to serve two-year terms. Interested SLD members should send their resumes and letters of interest to the SLD Nominating Committee in care of the State Bar by Jan. 15.

YLD members will choose a president-elect for a one-year term. Interested YLD members are invited to write to the YLD Nominating Committee Chair in care of the State Bar by Feb. 2. YLD directors and other officers will be elected during the annual meeting in May, by nomination from the floor.

Elections take place in April. Election ballots will be mailed no later than April 9 and must be returned by April 23. All terms begin on July 1, 2004.

Inside the Bar