Richard Renner and Aaron Maduff for NELA Executive Board

Richard Renner's
candidate statement

I am on a mission. I want NELA to accomplish improvements in the laws protecting workers from retaliation. It is tragic that so many employees are afraid to stand up for their rights because they anticipate reprisals. Congress has shown bipartisan interest on whistleblower issues. Sarbanes-Oxley (2002) set a high water mark for employee protections. The 2005 Energy Bill brought nuclear whistleblowers to that same level. The floor is open for a comprehensive health and safety protection, or even a revamp of all federal anti-retaliation laws. I want NELA to seize this day.

My practice focuses on the rights of environmental whistleblowers. I am secretary of the National Whistleblower Center. I serve on the Board with Kris Kolesnik, a former staffer for Sen. Charles Grassley -- a Senate leader on whistleblower issues. NELA should work closely with him to pass the rest of the CRTFA, and improve whistleblower protections. I wrote an amicus brief on behalf of the Government Accountability Project and seven other groups for the cert petition from Doyle v. Secretary of Labor, 285 F.3d 243 (3d Cir. 2002), cert. denied. My resume is at www.taterenner.com/r3resume.htm.

As a member of the NELA Ethics Committee, I have worked on behalf of NELA attorneys when they face retaliatory motions. I am friends with a group of Guatemalan immigrant workers in my home town. In legal services, I was a Regional Vice President of the National Organization of Legal Services Workers (NOLSW), UAW Local 2320. I want NELA to remember that the roots of employment law are in the Labor and Civil Rights Movements. We need to make peace with our allies and fight "at-will."

Aaron Maduff is known widely for his energy and commitment for employees' rights. He wants to strengthen NELA through a national membership drive. He has the enthusiasm to pull it off. I am honored to campaign with him for NELA Executive Board.

I would appreciate your vote for both myself and for Aaron Maduff. NELA will mail out ballots to all NELA members in April. Feel free to call me:

Richard Renner
Tate & Renner
505 N Wooster Ave
PO Box 8
Dover, OH 44663
Email: rrenner@igc.org
330-364-9900
330-224-0359 cell

Aaron Maduff's
candidate statement

I am currently the managing member of Maduff, Medina, & Maduff, LLC in Chicago. I am also the current Vice-President of NELA-Illinois and have served on the NELA-Illinois Board for the past five years. I have served as NELA-Illinois' Secretary, Legislative Liaison, and have been active on various committees.

I have been active in NELA National attending some 15 conferences and conventions in the last five years, presenting at some, and participating in the Affiliate Leadership Workshops. I have also participated on NELA's legislative committee and attended lobby days (a great experience that I commend to everyone) and been a part of amicus briefing (both for NELA National and NELA-Illinois.) In addition, I have been fortunate to participate in several conferences put on by other NELA affiliates.

In building my practice over the last seven years, I can point to no organization that has had as great an impact as NELA and its affiliates (specifically including affiliates outside of Illinois.) In addition to the technical support we provide for each other, we also build an energy behind our shared vision. NELA offers us much and the greater our membership the stronger we get.

I believe that I can contribute a great deal to recruitment efforts to expand NELA's membership. There are too many attorneys trying to practice employment law without the assistance and educational opportunities NELA provides and who could help support NELA's legislative and judicial efforts. In the current political climate, every supporter is critical.

In addition, I believe our SAFER Fund needs support. Aside from the rampant filing of sanctions motions by defense counsel we face in Chicago, our firm has begun assisting attorneys outside of Chicago in sanctions battles. I would like to see NELA reach a point where not only can it assist in providing funds, but perhaps legal representation of its members. It is our numbers, our unity, and our commitment to each other and our principles that has given us all strength in the face of defendants with greater resources and often tactics of questionable ethics.

I would be honored to serve on NELA's Executive Board and ask for your support.

Aaron can be reached at:
Maduff, Medina & Maduff
One E. Wacker Dr., Suite 2122
Chicago, IL 60601
Email: ABMaduff@madufflaw.com
(312) 276-9000
(312) 276-9001 FAX
www.madufflaw.com