Projo Politics Blog

By 2-to1, the members of Local 400, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, have voted in a new president. He is $53,550-a-year community liaison officer Brendan Fogarty, 46, a member of the Department of Transportation’s newly created constituent service office. He succeeds planner David Martone, who was president for eight years.

According to inside reports, the campaign rhetoric got heated. But Martone said: “I just think the people thought it was time for a change.”

Fogarty — noting he is no relation to former Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty — said his goal was to “bring the local into the 21st century,” with more technology, a new Web site he hopes to have up and running in a month, and training at the University of Rhode Island for those involved in the union’s activities “on how to handle issues and grievances.”

A Providence College graduate, Fogarty is pursuing a graduate degree at the University of Rhode Island in human resources-labor relations.

The local represents about 400 DOT employees.

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