AFT convention delegates have elected Edward J. McElroy as the union's new president, along with a new secretary-treasurer, executive vice president and a slate of 39 vice presidents. Elected with McElroy for the two additional top officer slots in balloting held July 16 were Nat LaCour as AFT secretary-treasurer and Antonia "Toni" Cortese, an AFT vice president from New York, as the union's new executive vice president.

McElroy, first elected AFT secretary-treasurer in 1992, succeeds Sandra Feldman, who for health reasons did not run for another term. He is a former president of the Warwick (R.I.) Teachers Union and the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers, and he served as president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO from 1977 until 1992.

McElroy was elected to the AFL-CIO executive council in November 2001. McElroy also chairs the AFL-CIO's Department for Professional Employees, a coalition of 25 national unions representing more than 4 million professional, technical and administrative professionals.

LaCour, the AFT's executive vice president since 1998, has chaired a number of key AFT committees and initiatives, including the executive council's organizing committee, the council's ad hoc committee on affiliate accountability, and the AFT task force on healthcare. LaCour for many years was president of AFT's New Orleans affiliate, the United Teachers of New Orleans, and a longtime vice president on AFT's executive council.

Cortese has served as an officer of the New York State United Teachers since 1973 and has been responsible for NYSUT's division of research and educational services. She also is a longtime member of the AFT executive council and a vice president of the New York State AFL-CIO.

McElroy, LaCour and Cortese addressed delegates after the installation of new officers at the convention's final session on July 17.

Among the 39 vice presidents are 10 AFT leaders who are new to the union's executive council. Click here for the complete list of all executive council members and highlights of McElroy's address to delegates.