Election Master Upholds Hoffa Win

James P. Hoffa has postponed plans for his inauguration on March 6, but is moving closer to officially taking over as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Election Appeals Master Kenneth Conboy decided last week to uphold Hoffa’s victory. However, he stayed his decision for at least 14 days to give U.S. District Judge David H. Edelstein in New York time to review the election protests and appeals.

Edelstein is responsible for monitoring the Teamsters under a 1989 agreement between the union and the Department of Justice.

Conboy also ordered a new election for southern region vice president to fill a spot vacated by James D. Potter. Election Officer Michael Cherkasky had refused to certify Potter’s election because he exceeded campaign-contribution limits and lied about it to investigators.

Hoffa challenger Tom Leedham, president of Local 206 in Portland, Ore., said he has not decided whether to appeal Conboy’s ruling.

Ken Paff, a spokesman for Teamsters for a Democratic Union, which also opposed Hoffa’s election, said he has no objection to making Hoffa’s election official.