Two of the largest entertainment industry unions have elected three presidents, and no one had to break a sweat campaigning, since all three ran unopposed.
Matthew Loeb has been selected to return for his third consecutive four-year term as president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. He was elected by acclaim at last week's 68th Quadrennial Convention in Hollywood, Florida. IATSE represents more than 130,000 technicians, artisans and craftsmen in Canada and the United States.
Meanwhile, David Goodman, executive producer of "Family Guy," was chosen to be the next president of the Writers Guild of America West, succeeding incumbent Howard Rodman, who decided not to seek a second term.
The WGA East set "House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon, who also ran unopposed when Michael Winship decided not to run for a second term, as its president last month.
Both Gordon and Willimon are set to take office after election results for the other contested positions are announced on Sept. 18. The WGA East and West are separate unions but they bargain and lobby jointly, coordinating other efforts.
Conventional wisdom says that contested elections are better for unions and just about any democracy, giving voice to varied views on the issues and involving the membership in the campaign. But in these cases, the unions have set courses worth staying.
IATSE's Loeb has held the post since 2008, when he succeeded longtime IATSE topper Thomas C. Short. He's overseen organizing efforts that have grown the union's ranks to the largest ever.
The union's film and TV contract with producers was comparable in terms with those of the WGA, the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. It will expire next year. The union's contract with commercials producers was signed in 2016 and runs through 2019.
The WGA East and West reached eleventh-hour deals with the TV and film producers in May. Progress was made on compensation for writing for cable and the internet, which was a key issue because shows that are streamed or on cable often shoot fewer episodes. The WGA East also recently has scored a string of organizing wins at new media outlets, including the Huffington Post.
The WGA East has roughly 3,700 members and the WGA West has around 20,000.
Contact the reporter at tcunningham@alm.com. On Twitter: @toddcnnnghm.