Candidate Personal Statement
MAPE Internal Elections
Contested Races Only
Local 601 Secretary
Megan Kettunen
My name is Megan Kettunen. My journey began with the Department of Health, during the COVID pandemic. I have been a state employee for just over 1 year and a MAPE member since January 2023. I am interested in the union and learning more about being part of a union. I hope to use this role to become better acquainted with MAPE and with members from around Minnesota. I plan to use my 20+ years’ experience in administrative positions to support Local 601 as the Local Secretary. What is most important to me is being part of a group that strives to create change when they see something of concern that needs to change. If elected I will work to provide members with the resources and tools to make their voices heard and assist in creating change for MAPE members.
Roberta Suski
Hello. I am Roberta Suski, member of MAPE Local 601. I work at Minnesota Department of Health, and I’ve been an active and involved member of MAPE since accepting my new job/role in July 2022. I’m currently working with the Membership Committee, meeting with new employees, helping them understand the value of belonging to a union, and helping plan membership events. Before becoming a member in MAPE, I was an actively involved member of my AFSCME union and local. I’ve worked with the State of Minnesota for nearly 16 years, and during that time, I have held various positions within my two AFSCME locals, from steward, trustee, and activist, to executive board member, secretary, treasurer, and even all the way to president.
I’d like to be more involved in the local so that I can immerse myself in the process and not only learn how I can better serve my union siblings in MAPE, but how I can help grow and strengthen our local and union. I grew up in a strong union household, learning the importance of working together and I hope I am instilling these values in my household as well.
After ensuring that I met the probationary requirements in my new position, I have jumped in with both feet. I attended my first MAPE Capitol Lobby Day this spring, meeting with my legislators and letting them know we deserve a fair contract. I’ve also taken Basic Steward Training to get to know our contract better, and I look forward to serving us all well!
Local 1001 President
Kent Barnard
Hi, I’m Kent Barnard and I would appreciate your vote to continue serving as president of Local 1001. I’ve been honored to serve as your president the past two years, and I appreciate all your work to help make our union stronger. Although we’ve made much progress with our new contract and holding the line on health care plus other gains, we need to continue our progress. We need to continue working to raise union support and awareness. And it is more important than ever to increase union membership while maintaining current membership. I will continue to strive for increased participation of members and to motivate and encourage inactive members to become involved.
New employees are the future of our union, so it is important to welcome them and to share the advantages of union membership. We also need to encourage them to become involved and take leadership roles in the union both at the local and statewide level. I also will continue to work toward increased diversity of leadership within our local and if re-elected, I will listen to the concerns and ideas of all members and provide transparent leadership at the local and state levels.
I’ve served our Local as a steward, a member of our meet and confer committee and as both an alternate and delegate to the MAPE Delegate Assembly
Please feel free to reach out to me with your questions or concerns. Let’s continue to work for a strong union and to fight for our rights.
James DeLuca
My name is Jim DeLuca and I work for MnDOT, in the Transit Section of OPPMT. I have been a state employee and MAPE member for 11 years. For the period 2014-2017, I was Membership Secretary for Local 801, and through membership drives and new employee orientation, membership grew by 10%. I have served as Local 1001Vice President for the last two years, focusing on membership growth and assisting with Local 1001 events. As Negotiations representative alternate, I helped advance our 2023-25 contract. My experience in the private sector prior to working at MnDOT provides me with an appreciation of the opportunity to be in a union. I’m excited to be part of the labor movement and if I am elected, I will do my best to bring that enthusiasm to Local 1001 and build solidarity within MAPE and in the greater labor movement.
Local 1002 Vice President
Ann Mitchell
We know the value of collective efficacy in education. Bandura's 1993 study explained "teachers who work together to develop a strong sense of collective efficacy in their school community can make significant contributions to the academic success of children." In particular, Bandura was able to show positive effects of collective teacher efficacy on student academic performance outweigh the negative effects of low socioeconomic status. At its best, a union strives for similar "collective efficacy" by lifting individual workers to realize more than the sum of its parts. I hope to contribute to a shared belief in our capacity to not only make a difference, but to transform the WAY we make that difference within the system.
Roberto Reyes
Roberto Reyes is the State Coordinator for Homeless Education under the Federal McKinney-Vento Act. As the State Coordinator for Homeless Education from 2011 to Present, Mr. Reyes provides technical assistance, in coordination with local liaisons, to all LEAs to ensure compliance with the following LEA requirements: school choice/placement, best interest determination, enrollment disputes, records, comparable services, coordination, local liaison duties, review and revision of policies, and the prohibition on segregation under the McKinney-Vento Act. The goals are: Improvement of educational services for children and youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk so they have the opportunity to meet academic content and achievement standards; providing children and youth with services to transition from residential placement to further successfully schooling or employment; and prevent at-risk youth from dropping out of school; and offer dropouts and children and youth returning from correctional facilities with a support system to ensure their continued education.
Also, I am involved in MAPE 1002 local as a local delegate assembly and represent MAPE members as a steward. I have also participated in MAPE rallies and door-knocking member calls to action.
Mr. Reyes received his Bachelor of Applied Science in Workforce Education Development at the University of Southern Illinois, IL, while in the U.S. Navy and his Master’s Degree(s) in Counseling in School Counselor Education from Mercy College, NY, while working full-time at the New York City Department of Education.
Mr. Reyes has extensive experience working with Vulnerable/homeless children for non-profit, county, and state organizations, including Ramsey County, New York City Department of Education, and now the Minnesota Department of Education.
Roberto is a U.S. Navy Veteran who served in the Gulf War. is also retired from the U.S. Army Reserves effective May 01, 2017, in the rank of SSG Staff Sergeant E-6.
Roberto is married to Gissela and [truncated]
Local 1901 Vice President
Christina Berry
I am interested in serving as Vice President of MAPE. I believe I have a strong understanding of both programs, in particular the concerns within MSOP, after working there for 6 years and have been learning the concerns of FMHP staff, since starting March 2023. I would like to see MSOP and FMHP staff have the courage to become more involved in their MAPE program.
Jovae Priebe
I accept and am excited to full full the roll of Vice President of MAPE 1901.
Statewide Political Council
Wael Abdelkader
A year ago, Wael accepted a position as Real Estate Rep at MnDOT dealing with some high conflict situation. Wel became a MAPE member right after, then joined 1801 local board shortly after. He volunteered in 1801 local's scholarship committee advocating to increase scholarship funds by $500.00. The increase of funds to aid members who needs support with professional licensing that current employer will not pay obtain. He served as secretary for 1801 local thereafter till he was approached to run for one of the open political council seats. Wael also, joined Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at different level within MNDOT. Currently, Wael co-chairs district 8 (Willmar) DEI committee and also chairs African American Employee resource group (AAERG a MNDOT statewide group.). In 2016 he became politically active and joined a major political party. He served multiple terms and in difference capacity example: as precinct chair, senate district executive director, congressional district executive director, and statewide outreach & inclusion committee member. In 2017 Wael ran for 833 school district's school board special election to represent students, teachers' union and underrepresented communities. Example of political involvement includes door knocking, debates, social media presence, fundraising, grassroot activities, go-out-to-vote campaigns and community conversations. Wael was a non-profit board member, and he was part of a leadership committee for health care initiatives. This initiative is a partnership between city, county, local non-profit organizations, business and large healthcare providers. Wael has divers professional experience in real estate, mortgage lending, accounting, IT, charter schools, non-profit, small business and politics. Wael is committed to be the voice of understanding, believes of our union and its vision, and skilled in having those hard conversations. I am excited to serve your needs, thank you for your vote and support. Let's talk: 320-894-0391
James Dirth
Hello, my name is James Dirth. I work for the Department of Human Services in St. Paul. I have been with the state government almost 4 years and a MAPE member for just as long. In MAPE I went to Lobby Day this year to help MAPE’s effort in persuading legislators to support bills in favor of Minnesota families and MAPE members. I have also been a delegate for Delegate Assembly this past year and currently an alternate for this year. I have done advocacy work for students at the University of Wisconsin La Crosse for three years while in college. I met with legislators, testified at committee hearings, and informed student leaders about ongoing policy proposals at the Wisconsin legislature. I am a firm believer in the power of unions and why they are necessary for workers after years of deteriorating working conditions, stagnant wages, and growing wealth inequality.
If elected, I want to focus on two issues. First, holding elected officials accountable, particularly those who have claimed to support unions during elections season. We have seen some great accomplishments from the legislature in passing policies in favor of Minnesota families, but we have also seen hesitations at times and MAPE must act as a persistent presence for those elected officials to ensure that they are held accountable for what the voters put them into office for.
Second, I would like to see MAPE advocate for policies that support workers throughout the state, especially for workers who are currently fighting for the right to unionize. I believe we are at a crucial moment with the massive uptick in efforts to unionize and strikes happening across the country, and I believe must show constant solidarity with workers in their fight for better conditions and wages.
John Ferrara
My name is John Ferrara. I have been a member of MAPE since 2006 and currently serve as Chair of the Political Council. I am a Computer Systems Administrator for Winona State University in Rochester. I am also a steward and serve on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. I have been a MAPE officer for over ten years, serving successfully in multiple roles including, Local Vice-President, Local President, Regional Director, and Political Council Vice-Chair. Three hundred words is insufficient to share my accomplishment, but truly they are not my accomplishments, they belong to the many members who worked together to make those things happen. What I did do was help those people see they had a common goal and offered a vision for achieving their goal. I facilitated their activities within the framework of MAPE’s structure, so they could be successful. As a local president and regional director, we increased membership over 10% and we more than doubled the number of stewards in our local. I have a deep understanding of MAPE structure and governance, which is essential for a statewide officer. I fervently believe the way we build power is through personal relationships. When we have strong personal relationships, we can take risks together. We can stand together in solidarity because we know an attack on one is an attack on all of us. I have a vision for the Political Council and how we can help forge those relationships and build our power. There is so much we can do when we stand together. Please re-elect me to the Political Council so I can continue the work of forging a stronger MAPE.
Chad Hermes
My name is Chad Hermes. I am an attorney with MnDOT who has been working in politics for a decade. I started doing non-partisan get-out-the-vote work in college, before managing local DFL campaigns. During and since attending law school, I have continued to door knock, phone bank, attend political events, host fundraisers, and work with local elected officials in my community. I believe it is extremely important to elect candidates to office that share one's values and goals. Organized labor's victories past and present show the efficacy of this philosophy and I want to continue the work of getting elected candidates that will support labor in everything they do. If elected to the Political Council, I will work hard and dedicate my time to selecting for endorsement and helping elect candidates that will make organized labor one of their primary priorities. Thank you for considering me.
Kyle Wilmar
My name is Kyle Wilmar. I am a Disability Specialist with DEED and live in St. Paul. I have been a state employee for five years and a MAPE member for two years. I currently serve as a steward in Local 601, a member of MAPE PAC, and a member of the political council.
I am running for political council to expand our union's political power in the state and use that power to make positive changes in our members' lives. We live in a state that has a pro-labor house, senate, and governor but we need to continue to hold our elected leaders accountable to take actions to back their pro-labor claims. Well, we are lucky to have a state government that is open to our legislative agenda, we are only one of many unions and interest groups that made this Minnesota trifecta possible. With this coalition comes many voices making a lot of different demands. Our voice needs to be the loudest if we are going to reach our legislative goals and make the changes that our membership deserves.
I plan on achieving this by taking action to keep our members politically informed and active. I will keep our members informed of our current legislative goals, any legislation that would impact us as working-class Minnesotans, and any events that would further our political goals. I will organize events to get our members involved in all aspects of politics. I want our members to be there from the local caucases to the legislative session. The more involved our members are in the political process, the more political power we will have. Together we will make MAPE into a political force that will fight for the interests of all working-class Minnesotans!