State COPE - Committee on Political Education

Executive Board 

Josh Sword, Chairman    
Andy Walters, Secretary-Treasurer  
Sherry Breeden, State COPE Director    
Brian Wedge, Representing Industrial Sector Unions 
Fred Albert, Representing Public Employee Sector Unions  
BB Smith, Representing Central Labor Councils 
John Epperly, Representing Construction Sector Unions 

Committee Members 

(A) The Officers and Executive Board of the West Virginia AFL-CIO: 

Josh Sword, Chairman  
Andy Walters, Secretary-Treasurer 
Fred Albert, Vice President, Second Congressional District 
Heather Anderson, Vice President, Second Congressional District        
Bob Brown, Vice President, First Congressional District    
Mike Caputo, Vice President, Second Congressional District        
Joe Carter, Vice President, First Congressional District    
Dan Doyle, Vice President, Second Congressional District                              
John Epperly, Vice President, First Congressional District 
Joyce Gibson, Vice President, First Congressional District 
Elaine Harris, Vice President, First Congressional District                                
Jessie King, Vice President, Second Congressional District 
Chuck Parker, Vice President, First Congressional District    
Dan Poling, Vice President, Second Congressional District 
Gary Southall, Vice President, Second Congressional District  
Brian Wedge, Vice President, First Congressional District  

(B) A representative for each international union with membership in the state of 1,000 or more and or which maintains a full time representative within the state. However, any 

International union with less than 1,000 members in the state may apply for representation on the State COPE Committee and upon the approval of the application by the Committee, shall be granted such representation. 

Robert James, AFGE, American Federation of Government Employees 
Ron Piersol, AW, Heat & Frost Insulators 
Terry Cunningham, AFT, American Federation of Teachers 
Bruce Forshee, IBB, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers 
Leroy Hunter, BAC, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers 
Luke Begovich, UBC, United Brotherhood of Carpenters 
Letha Perry, CWA, Communications Workers of America 
Kelly Bradley, IUEC, International Union of Elevator Constructors 
Steve Crum, IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
Luke Farley, IBT, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Brad Winans, IW, International A. of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers 
Matt McComas, LIUNA, Laborers International Union of North America 
Don Riffee, IAM, International Association of Machinists 
Joe Paden, NALC, National Association of Letter Carriers 
Justin Williams, IUOE, International Union of Operating Engineers 
Brian Stanley, IUPAT, International Union of Painters & Allied Trades 
Paul Breedlove, UA, United Assoc.-Union of Plumbers, Fitters, Welders & HVAC Service Techs 
Chris Womack, OPCMIA, Operative Plasterers’ & Cement Masons’ International Association 
Lisa Johnson, OPEIU, Office and Professional Employees International Union
Jim Jackson, SMART, International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation 
Sherri McKinney, SEIU, Service Employees International Union 
Ken Collinson, UAW, United Auto Workers 
OPEN, UFCW, United Food & Commercial Workers  
Chad Francis, UMWA, United Mine Workers of America 
Dave Martin, USW, United Steelworkers   
Greg Lanham, UWUA, Utility Workers Union of America 
Peter Bostic, Workers United 

(C) A representative from each AFL-CIO State Trade and Industrial Departments or Councils: 

Mack Combs, National Association of Letter Carriers 
Joe Elliott, Carpenters, Mid-Atlantic Regional Council 
Fred Chandler, Charleston Building Trades Council 
Jeff Anderson, CWA State Council 
Calvin Brogan, Laborers’ District Council 
Natalie Stone, North Central Building Trades Council 
Glenn McEndree, Painters District Council 53 
Buddy Malone, Parkersburg Marietta Building Trades Council 
Myron Boggess, Professional Fire Fighters of WV 
Neil Huffman, Tri-State Building Trades Council 
Thomas Conner, Upper Ohio Valley Building & Trades Council 
Karen Shipley, USW District 8 Council 
Tega Toney, AFT-WV Council 
Ginny Moles, Alliance for Retired Americans – WV Chapter 
C. D. “Piglet” Adkins, WV State Pipe Trades Association 
Steve White, WV State Bldg. & Construction Trades Council  
Shane Ferguson, WV State Electrical Workers Association   

  1. The Director of COPE

Sherry Breeden 

  1. The Director of Campaigns 

Stacey Ruckle 

  1. A Representative from each Central Labor Council within the state: 
    1. Ryan Omaits President, Brooke-Hancock Labor Council, AFL-CIO
    2. John Christensen President, Eastern Panhandle Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO  
    3. Kris Mallory President, Kanawha Valley Labor Council, AFL-CIO 
    4. Mark Dorsey President, Marion County AFL-CIO Labor Council 
    5. BB Smith President, Marshall-Wetzel-Tyler Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO  
    6. Roger Winebrenner Vice President, Mason-Jackson-Roane Labor Council, AFL-CIO  
    7. Neil Heard President, Monongalia-Preston Labor Council, AFL-CIO  
    8. Steve Perdue President, North Central West Virginia Labor Council, AFL-CIO  
    9. Tom Hoffman President Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly, AFL-CIO 
    10. Andrew Stump President, Parkersburg Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO 
    11. Debra Elmore President, South Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO 
    12. Phil Bostic President, Southeastern Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO  
    13. Justin Altizer President, Southwestern District Labor Council, AFL-CIO 
  1. The AFL-CIO Regional Director or his or her designated representative with the state: 

Juanita Sanchez 

  1. Such additional representation as the Executive Board of the WV AFL-CIO may decide.