July 26,2024

New Nominees for USPS Governor

Yesterday, President Biden announced his intention to nominate two USPS Governors. Here is the White House announcement:

WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as leaders in his administration:

Val Demings, Nominee to be a Governor (Democratic) of the United States Postal Service Board of Governors

Val Butler Demings is a lifelong public servant who broke numerous glass ceilings. In 2016, Demings was elected by the voters of Florida’s 10th District to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. She fought to grow the economy, reduce household costs, and end gun violence. She served on the House Committees on Judiciary, Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Oversight and Government Reform, and chaired the House Homeland Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. She was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus, and New Democratic Caucus, a member of the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Review Board and the Elections Security Taskforce, and served as Assistant and Regional Whip for the House Democratic Caucus, Co-Chair of Candidate Recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Vice Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. Demings was the Democratic nominee for Senate in Florida in 2022.

At the start of her career, Demings worked as a social worker before joining the police academy. She graduated from the police academy as Class President, receiving the Board of Trustees’ Award for Overall Excellence. Demings served at every rank level in the Orlando Police Department for 27 years, commanding the Special Operations division and handling the department’s highest-profile tasks, including coordinating the response of the Airport Division on September 11th, 2001. In 2007, Demings made history when she was appointed to serve as Orlando’s first female Chief of Police.

William Zollars, Nominee to be a Governor (Republican) of the United States Postal Service Board of Governors

William Zollars grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota as one of four children. He attended Edina High School and the University of Minnesota where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, Zollars spent 24 years at Eastman Kodak where he held roles in finance, strategic planning, marketing, logistics, and general management. While at Eastman Kodak, he also spent five years in Europe, three years in Canada, and one year in Japan. In 1994, Zollars helped establish the Integrated Logistics business at Ryder Systems in Miami. In 1997, Zollars became President of Yellow Freight in Kansas City, Missouri, the largest division at Yellow Corporation. In 1999, he was promoted to Chairman, President, and CEO of the company and held the position for 12 years.

Additionally, Zollars served on the public company boards of Cerner, Cigna, Prologis, and several private company boards. He will be completing his first term as a Governor of the United States Postal Board of Governors at the end of the year 2023.

Potential Composition of USPS Governors

If all three new President Biden nominees (Marty Walsh was nominated earlier) are confirmed by the Senate we will have 4 Democrats, 4 Republicans, and 1 Independent, at least until December 8, 2024. Roman Martinez’s holdover year will end on December 8, 2024.

Nominee Val Demings, D, is replacing Anton Hajjar, D, whose holdover year ends December 8, 2024.

Willam Zollars, R, is filling a vacancy.

Three of the Republicans will have been originally nominated by former President Trump, with Zollars renominated by President Biden. The other six Governors will have been originally nominated by President Biden.

Remember that the postal law requires that no more than four of the Governors be from one political party.

Current Governors (with two vacancies and two in “holdover years”, Martinez and Hajjar)

Roman Martinez IV

Chairman, Board of Governors – R, Trump

Amber F. McReynolds

Vice Chairman, Board of Governors – I, Biden

Robert M. Duncan

Member, Board of Governors – R, Trump

Anton G. Hajjar

Member, Board of Governors – D, Biden

Derek Kan

Member, Board of Governors – R, Biden

Ronald A. Stroman

Member, Board of Governors – D, Biden

Daniel Tangherlini

Member, Board of Governors – D, Biden

New Composition of Governors if all Three Nominees are Confirmed

Current Members

1. Roman Martinez, IV, Chair, R, Trump, holdover year ending December 8, 2024

1. Amber F. McReynolds, I, Biden, Vice Chair

1. Robert M. Duncan, R, Trump

1. Derek Kan, R, Biden

1. Ronald A. Stroman, D, Biden

1. Daniel Tangherlini, D, Biden

Nominees

1. Marty Walsh, D, Biden (previously nominated by Biden)

1. William Zollars, R, Trump (renominated by Biden)

1. Val Demings, D, Biden

Senate Hearing to Reconfirm Two PRC Commissioners

At yesterday’s hearing in the Senate oversight committee to confirm Ashley Poling and Ann Fisher to continue as PRC Commissioners, there was talk about rates forcing mail volume out. That’s a big improvement over the previous hearings where rates were not mentioned. It looks like the USPS will be the cheese that stands alone in continuing to deny that rates cause significant mail volume declines beyond what would happen otherwise.

Alliance Comments

If you haven’t already, I suggest that you read our comments in the rate review in full. I think we made an excellent case. We cited all sorts of evidence from USPS data, the OIG, PRC statements and testimony, and the intent of Congress for USPS rates.