Tensions remain high within the Screen Actors Guild over strident opposition by regional branches and New York to a plan to cut the national board from 105 to 62 and give Hollywood members a majority.
The governance plan, tabled indefinitely on a 52-50 vote on April 1, represents a flashpoint for many Los Angeles leaders who believe non-Hollywood reps wield a disproportionate amount of power and spend excessively on travel; regional branches believe their offices will be closed down.
In the latest development, members of the Los Angeles contingent have pointed out that board member Mary McDonald-Lewis of Portland, Ore., totaled $34,122 in expenses in repping 400 members during the 12-month period through last August. The figure was the second-highest total among SAG members, trailing prexy William Daniels by only $2,202.
Hollywood board members were also irked over the expense figure since it was in excess of the Portland branch revenues during the same period.
The ongoing disputes on such issues underscores the challenge facing the Guild in presenting a united front at upcoming film-TV contract negotiations.
Other leading spenders include New Mexico rep Roy Costley with $24,092, Chicago-based 5th VP Mary Seibel with $23,067, Nashville rep Cece Dubois with $20,927, New York-based 10th VP Maureen Donnelly with $15,131, Arizona rep Steven Fried with $13,150, Chicago rep Jack Shaw with $12,832 and Colorado rep Kathryn Christopher with $12,004.
McDonald-Lewis, who was prominent in organizing opposition to the governance proposal, estimated two-thirds of her spending was for last year's strike activities as a rep at New York negotiations and organizer of SAG's "Road Warrior" program to protest non-union ad shoots. She said her goal has been to serve as a rep to all regional members, not just the 400 in the Pacific Northwest, and claimed the disclosure of her spending represents an attempt to silence her.
"I'm ashamed this is being used as a bullying tactic," she added.
The governance proposal was designed to reflect Hollywood's 53.5% of the membership and cut annual travel expenses by as much as $600,000. Hollywood currently has 51 of the 105 seats.
Leading travel spenders in Los Angeles included negotiating team members David Jolliffe with $32,221, Glen Veteto with $31,815 and Chuck Sloan with $23,342.
Contact Dave McNary at
dave.mcnary@variety.com