Teamsters Tally Expected Soon

The federal government’s Teamsters union election overseer said final results of the

itterly contested national runoff could be announced as soon as Dec. 7.

After the first day of ballot counting, Dec. 3, election officer Michael Cherkasky said James P. Hoffa took an early lead in his quest to succeed his father as president of the nation’s second-largest union. Based on 5,554 ballots counted on the first day, all from the southern region, Mr. Hoffa claimed 52% of the vote, while Tom Leedham garnered 44% and John Metz had approximately 4%.

Mr. Cherkasky expressed disappointment with the projected turnout of “more than 400,000” out of 1.4 million eligible voters, but said he’s confident the election was “fair and open.” Teamsters elections are conducted through mail ballots.

Incumbent President Ron Carey beat Mr. Hoffa by fewer than 20,000 ballots out of nearly 440,000 ballots cast by rank-and-file union members in the 1996 election. That result was overturned because of fundraising improprieties by Mr. Carey’s campaign and he was barred from the current re-run. The victor of this election will serve the balance of Mr. Carey’s five-year term, which began in January, 1997.

Hoffa is the son of Jimmy Hoffa, the legendary Teamsters leader who built the union into a potent political force, before going to prison for jury tampering in a case involving corruption in the union.

ollowing the final tally of votes by Mr. Cherkasky’s staff, candidates have 15 days to protest results before the election can be certified.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which is based in Washington, is the dominant union in the trucking industry, where it represents drivers and warehouse workers.