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February 17, 1999 11:40 AM, EST

The fate of James P. Hoffa is in the hands of an election appeals master.

Kenneth Conboy, a retired federal judge, heard appeals last week from challenger Tom Leedham and representatives of the Teamsters for a Democratic Union to block Hoffa’s election as president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

During a telephone conference call, Leedham and TDU officials argued to Conboy that Hoffa received illegal campaign contributions and tolerated wrongdoing by members of his campaign slate (1-18, p. 1).

A spokesman for Hoffa said a decision by the judge should be rendered quickly in the appeal process that has prevented the president-elect from taking office.

Of the 359,000 ballots counted in December, Hoffa received 54.5% of the votes, compared with 39.3% for Leedham and 6% for John Metz. Two weeks after the results were announced, Leedham filed his protest.

In late January, Michael Cherkasky, the court-appointed election overseer, rejected the challenges and said he would certify the election, with two exceptions (2-1, p. 1). Cherkasky withheld certification for the union’s vice president position in Canada because an investigation of rules violations could affect the outcome of that election.

For the full story, see the Feb. 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.