Screen Actors Guild board member Anne-Marie Johnson, the Guild’s leading voice on affirmative action, has emerged as a possible running mate for presidential candidate Valerie Harper.
Johnson, an African-American actress who heads SAG’s ethnic employment opportunity commission, has taken out a nominating petition for 1st VP but was not available for comment. Hollywood-based Johnson, whose credits include “JAG,” “Melrose Place” and “In the Heat of the Night,” was a member of SAG’s negotiating team during the recent film-TV contract negotiations, and has endorsed Harper’s candidacy.
Current 1st VP Sumi Haru has not indicated if she will seek re-election.
Other nominating petitions taken out for Hollywood branch posts include Tom LaGrua, who chaired SAG’s negotiating team, for 3rd VP; board member Michael Harrity and Esai Morales for 9th VP; board member Elliot Gould for 11th VP; board members Bob Courts and Chuck Sloan for treasurer. Sloan is a close adviser to SAG prexy William Daniels, who has decided not to seek re-election.
More than three dozen SAG members have taken out petitions for Hollywood board seats, including long-time activist Robert Amico, Seymour Cassel, Leigh French, Renee Taylor and Angela Watson.
Elections will take place during the final three weeks of October.
