Editorial: March 13, 2026

Tuesday, March 10th, the American Kennel Club held their annual meeting and elections for the board of directors Class of 2030. There were nine delegates running for the three available directors seats. 

The nominating committee nominated three delegates, two former directors and one first time candidate. The former directors were Dominic Carota, delegate from the Pharaoh Hound Club of America, and Tom Powers, the delegate from the Kennel Club of Beverly Hills, and first time candidate Jason Hoke, delegate from the Chain O’Lakes Kennel Club. From the floor, by petition, were the other six delegates seeking a seat. They were perennial candidate Carl Ashby, the delegate from the United States Kerry Blue Terrier Club, Karen Burgess, delegate from the Greater Clark County Kennel Club, former employee and director Patricia Cruz, delegate from the Heart of the Plains Kennel Club, first time candidate Sue Goldberg, delegate from the Lewiston-Auburn Kennel Club, Laurie Maulucci, delegate  from the South Windsor Kennel Club, and former employee and first time candidate, Lisa Peterson. Now you have the playing field. When the delegates started to vote Dominic Carota and Jason Hoke were elected on the first ballot. Thinking that all three nominated candidates were sure shots we were not surprised that Dominic and Jason were elected, the defeat of Tom was a little surprising. The four ladies running, Laurie Maulucci, Karen Burgess, Pat Cruz and Lisa Peterson, not fairing well in the voting, dropped out after the second ballot. Carl Ashby dropped out after the fourth ballot and Sue Goldberg was elected with the fifth ballot. Dog News congratulates the new directors Dominic Carota, Jason Hoke and Sue Goldberg. The press release from the American Kennel Club did not include the number of delegates present at the annual meeting nor the vote count for each candidate with each ballot cast. As is custom, one of the first orders of business following the conclusion of the director’s election, is the  board of directors, that  includes the newly elected members, vote for the board chairman and vice chairman. There was talk of electing a new chairman but it is alleged that Tom Davies expressed that he wanted one more year as chairman. Request granted.  Reelected were Tom Davies, delegate from the Springfield Kennel Club, as chairman and Michael Knight, delegate from the Texas Kennel Club, as vice chairman. The board of directors will meet to vote on the election of Officers (president & CEO, chief financial officer, executive secretary) will be held soon but interesting to note the the much-heralded chief operating officer, Gordon Comfort, hired just last year, is no longer employed by the American Kennel Club.