Election Results

The board and I would like to thank all of you for your continued support and patience during the past few months. The department has gone thru a lot of changes since the beginning of the year. I would personally like to thank all of you for maintaining a professional and positive attitude during these months. There are many issues and concerns the Association is currently addressing with the Sheriff and the County. The Association and Sheriff have a good working relationship which continues to improve as the months go by.

On Sept. 2nd, commissioners Anna Perez, Willie Gandara, the County Auditor, County Attorney and the County HR contacted the Association and asked EPCSOA membership to make some salary concessions. The County needed help with a $13 million dollar shortfall.

The Association’s bargaining committee formulated a proposal that would benefit its membership and in the process help out the county. The Association’s committee offered to assist the county in saving 1.2 million dollars in return for a 2 year extension of the Articles of Agreement between the County and the EPCSOA. The Association would do this by asking its members to delay/postpone their COLA’s in FY 2010 which is (1.5%) in October 2009 and (1.5%) in April 2010. In Oct of 2010 we will resume getting our regular schedule COLAs at the step we should be at. Officers will still continue to receive their step increase and all other monies that they currently get now under the contract.

The County accepted the Association’s offer on Sept14, 2009 during a regular county meeting. The membership would have the final word on this issue and only you could decide if this is a fair offer. The vote to ratify the amendment to the Articles of Agreement was held today.
I would like to thank all of you that voted in today’s ratification and election. There are over 800 members in the Association and more than 500 members went to the polls to cast their votes.

The following are the official results:
The vote to accept the amendment to the Article of Agreement between the County and the Association- PASSED BY 84%
The vote to increase Association membership dues- Did not PASS
The vote to amend the Association’s constitution- PASSED
The vote for Association President/Vice President- The slate of Jose G. Marrufo –President and Dan Watling-Vice-President WON!!!

Again thank you all for your great support. I will continue to serve you and do what is best for all the members of the Association.

Respectfully,
Jose G. Marrufo Jr.
President-El Paso County
Sheriff’s Officers Association