On Friday, November 19, ARRL staff members opened ballots for the Director and Vice Director races in the Southeastern and West Gulf Divisions and the Director race in the Southwestern Division. After all the ballots were counted, there will be a new Vice Director in the Southeastern Division, while the West Gulf Division leadership team remains in place, as does the Director position in the Southwestern Division. Terms for Directors and Vice Directors begin at noon on January 1, 2011 and run for three years.

The following ran unopposed and were earlier declared the winner of their elections by the League’s Ethics and Elections Committee: Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG, and Vice Director Jim Tiemstra, K6JAT; Rocky Mountain Division Director Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, and Vice Director Dwayne Allen, WY7FD; and Southwestern Division Vice Director Marty Woll, N6VI. The rules state that if a candidate is running unopposed, he or she shall be declared the winner without balloting.

Southeastern Division

Incumbent Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, of Huntsville, Alabama, faced two challengers for his position: Sherri Brower, W4STB, of Vero Beach, Florida, and Doug Rehman, K4AC, of Mount Dora, Florida. Sarratt was the winner, with 2074 votes. Rehman came in second with 1555 votes, and Brower came in third with 1529 votes. Sarratt has served one term as Director; in 2007 he was elected to replace long-serving Director Frank Butler, W4RH, who retired.

Two candidates were seeking the Vice Director position in the Southeastern Division: incumbent Jeff Beals, WA4AW, of Loxahatchee, Florida, and Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, of Grayson, Georgia. Hartlage was declared the winner, garnering 3573 votes; Beals had 1615 votes. Beals was appointed Vice Director in June 2009 upon the death of Vice Director Sandy Donahue, W4RU.

Southwestern Division

Current ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, of Topanga, California, faced challenger Carl Gardenias, WU6D, of Perris, California, with Norton the victor. Norton, who was seeking his third term as Director, had 2218 votes, while Gardenias had 1132 votes.

West Gulf Division

Current ARRL West Gulf Division Director Dr David Woolweaver, K5RAV, of Harlingen, Texas, faced Larry Essary, K5XG, of Lucas, Texas, in the West Gulf Division Director race. With 2387 votes, Dr Woolweaver was declared the winner; Essary received 1262 votes. Dr Woolweaver previously served as Vice Director from 2000 to 2009 and became Director upon the resignation of Coy Day, N5OK.

Incumbent West Gulf Division Vice Director John Robert Stratton, N5AUS, of Austin, Texas, squared off against challenger Michael Reynolds, W0KIE, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Stratton won the race with 2427 votes; Reynolds had 1203 votes. Stratton was appointed Vice Director in August 2010, after the resignation of John Thomason, WB5SYT.

“It is great to see such an interest on the part of members in this election,” said ARRL Midwest Division Director Cliff Ahrens, K0CA. “I would like to thank everyone for running and also thank the ARRL members in the Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf Division who participated. The big turnout shows the high level of interest our members have in Amateur Radio.”

Along with Ahrens, New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, served as election tellers; Ahrens and Frenaye are members of the ARRL’s Ethics and Elections Committee. Erik Morrissey from the accounting firm of J. H. Cohn LLP, served as the independent observer.

The next scheduled Division elections are next fall for the ARRL Atlantic, Dakota, Delta, Great Lakes and Midwest Divisions. In accordance with League’s Bylaws, ballots will be counted on November 18, 2011.