Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 24, 1992 TAG: 9203240133
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A5 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
Karl Kafton, 62, of Cameron, declared his candidacy at Chapmanville Town Hall with vice president candidate Tom Loos, 39, of Steeleville, Ill., and secretary-treasurer candidate Roger Horton, 37, of Logan.
The incumbents have not yet announced their re-election plans. They are union President Richard Trumka, Vice President Cecil Roberts and Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Jones.
The election will be held in November. To be placed on the ballot, candidates must obtain nominating petitions from 25 union locals.
Kafton is retired from the Windsor Mine in Marshall County. He is a former district representative on the union's governing body, the International Executive Board. He lost a re-election bid in 1976.
Kafton was active in the Miners for Democracy movement that helped lead Arnold Miller to the union presidency in 1972. He also was active in Yablonski's failed presidential bid. Yablonski was later shot to death along with his family at his Pennsylvania home in 1969.
After former President Tony Boyle went to prison for participating in the conspiracy to kill the Yablonskis, Kafton put in a claim for the $50,000 reward the union had offered. He contended he had provided police with the license number of a car driven by one of the killers.
After years of legal wrangling, the union settled a lawsuit filed by Kafton for $10,000 in 1990.
Loos is a mine health and safety committeeman at the Horse Creek Mine in Perry County, Ill.
Horton is vice president of Local 5958 and is employed by Arch of West Virginia.
by CNB