WGA West Election: Two Candidates Drop Out Of Race For Board Seats – Update

UPDATED, 2:24 PM: The WGA West said today that two announced candidates have dropped out of its 2018 board of directors race. The union said incumbent Courtney Ellinger withdrew her candidacy on July 15, followed by challenger Akilah Green exiting four days later.

Their exits leave 13 people, including three incumbents, vying for eight open seats on the board.

PREVIOUSLY, June 21: Fifteen candidates have been nominated to run for eight open seats on the WGA West’s board of directors, including incumbents Patti Carr, Jonathan Fernandez, Courtney Ellinger and former guild president Patric Verrone.

The other candidates chosen by the guild’s nominating committee are Deric Hughes, David Slack, Akilah Green, Ashley Gable, Spiro Skentzos, VJ Boyd, Travis Donnelly, Dante W. Harper, Eric Heisserer, Deborah Amelon, and Betsy Thomas.

Eligible members also can run by petition by obtaining 15 member signatures in support of their candidacies. The deadline for submitting signed petitions is July 23. The guild will host its annual Candidates Night forum on August 29 at its headquarters in Los Angeles.

Guild members will receive candidate, non-candidate and rebuttal statements with their ballots prior to the election. The voting period ends on September 18. Members can vote online or by mail.

Erik Pedersen contributed to this report.