Richard Fox from Los Angeles was chosen president-elect of The American in the recent elections, defeating Elise Snyder from Western New England. Sandor Abend and Melvin Bornstein were elected councilors-at-large.
“Our recent election campaign broke new ground and led to a record voter turnout,” Fox commented. “Elise Snyder's energetic campaign helped mobilize members who otherwise might have sat out the election. I will broaden participation; our members represent a wide spectrum of views which I plan to recognize and unite in setting an agenda for our national organization.”
Fox has extensive leadership experience on both the local and the national level. He was Director of Education of the Los Angeles Psychoanalytic Institute and Society. He has been a Fellow of BOPS and a councilor on the Executive Council. He chaired the Committees on Membership, Governance, and Strategic Planning. He was at the forefront of the passage of the de-linkage amendment and the establishment of the Affiliate Council. Recently he was elected Council Representative of the IPA.
Fox will become president-elect in May when current President-Elect Robert Pyles succeeds President Marvin Margolis. Fox will assume the presidency in May 2000.
“We must become spokespersons not only for psychoanalysis but also for the traditional values implicit in the doctor-patient relationship, which have been placed in jeopardy by corporate interests,” said Fox upon learning of his victory. “As psychoanalysts, we are in a unique position to emphasize that systems which de-personalize treatment and measure its value in terms of profitability threaten to destroy what it has taken decades to develop. The American Psychoanalytic Association must champion the patient and the doctor in their struggle to maintain quality care.”
During the election campaign, Fox proposed a 10-point strategy to continue the revitalization of The American. He recommended mobilizing the membership, establishing and maintaining national priorities, and streamlining The American's operations. Development of strategic alliances and expansion of political influence were priorities, as were providing members with the tools needed for effective advocacy and the development of a national media strategy. Fox called for increased support for psychoanalytic research and continuation of The American's dedication to psychoanalytic education.
In the election for the two positions of councilor-at-large, Sandor Abend of New York and Melvin Bornstein of Michigan were selected over Leon Hoffman of New York and Henry Kaminer of New Jersey and PANY.
Fox received 62 percent of the vote: 896 votes to Snyder's 554. Fifty-two ballots were ineligible. Abend received 577 votes and Bornstein 403 votes (tallies for the losing candidates are not made available).
The campaign was marked by extensive use of e-mail, by means of which interested members could question the candidates on their views. This forum may have contributed to the increase of 300 votes above last election. (See “Our First Election Using E-Mail — And Beyond,” page 11.)