The Vice President and National Legislative Representative is John Tolman.
He was elected at the first Quadrennial Convention of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen in June 2006.
Brother Tolman began his railroad career as a hostler in 1971 shortly after graduating from Watertown High School in Watertown, MA. He advanced to the position of fireman and was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1974. During the course of his railroad career, he has worked for New York Central Railroad, Penn Central Railroad, Conrail, the Boston and Maine Railroad and Amtrak. He earned both Bachelor's and Masters' degrees while working on the railroad. He joined the BLET on March 1, 1980.
In September 1996, Tolman was hired by the BLE International Division to work as a Special Representative, and was asked to move to Cleveland, Ohio, in order to work on special projects under the direction of the International President. In September 2001, he was asked to serve as the Chief of Staff to the President. In July 2004, he was asked to serve as the Legislative & Political Director and Chief of Staff.
John Tolman comes from both a union and railroad family which has also had significant involvement in politics. John followed in his father's footsteps both in railroad and union work; his father was a conductor and served as a UTU local and General Chairman. John's oldest brother is a yardmaster for Amtrak and Local Chairman for the UTU Yardmasters. His oldest sister works for the Superintendent in a public-school system in Massachusetts.
John's two younger brothers are deeply involved in Massachusetts politics. His brother Steven worked as a railroad clerk for 25 years, and served as a State Representative for several years; prior to that he had been a Local Chairman for TCU, and a regional system Chairman for TCU. He is now a Massachusetts State Senator in his fifth term. His brother Warren served two terms as a State Representative, and two terms as a State Senator. In 2000, he was the Massachusetts Democratic Party's nominee for the Lt. Governor. In 2004 he ran for Governor of the Bay State. His youngest sister is the chairwoman of her bargaining unit for the Massachusetts Nurses' Association where she previously has served as president.
John Tolman and his wife Chris and have three children -- Caroline, Jeff and Johanna.