The former president of United Auto Workers Local 1112 knew heading into Thursday’s election for UAW regional director for Ohio and Indiana that his chance at victory was long.

“I didn’t think it would be as long as it was. It definitely was a long shot for me,” said Dave Green. “I just wanted to make sure the delegates had an option. I know I’m qualified, but they have their faith in Wayne (Blanchard), so I support him 100 percent. He’s our new director, so we’re going to follow his lead.”

UAW delegates in the two-state region 2B elected Blanchard, the region’s assistant director who has guided the region since the August resignation of Youngstown native and former Local 1112 member Rich Rankin amid harassment allegations.

Vote totals weren’t available, but Blanchard won easily with all but a handful of votes. He will serve the rest of the term that expires in June 2022.

Green, who needed to be nominated to be considered, was, but he did not receive a vote. Rich LeTourneau, shop chairman of UAW Local 2209 at the General Motors assembly plant in Fort Wayne, Ind., was the third candidate.

“I wish Wayne the best; I hope he serves well,” said Green.

He went into the election as the counter candidate, writing in his letter to delegates they had the power to vote outside the caucus and asking if the “handpicked” UAW leaders have been “the best choice for our members, our locals?”

Green has been with the automaker for more than 30 years, starting as a temporary employee in 1989. He became president of Local 1112 in May 2018 that by then had merged with UAW Local 1714, which represented workers in the fab plant at the GM complex. Before that, Green served a period as president of Local 1714.

Six months after he assumed the role of Local 1112 president, GM announced it was shuttering the plant. He was among the leaders of an unsuccessful effort to convince GM to walk back its decision and assign a new production vehicle to Lordstown, and left for Indiana when the automaker finally sealed the plant’s fate when it inked a new UAW contract last year.

He resigned the presidency a year ago and left for GM’s Bedford Casting Operations in Bedford, Ind., where he’s a hot metal driver.

The director’s election comes as several senior ranking officials in the union face criminal charges, the latest being former UAW President Dennis Williams, who is accused of conspiring with his successor, Gary Jones, and others to embezzle money for golf, vacation villas and fine dining.

UAW members in the region range from automakers and parts suppliers, beer brewers, health care professionals, public employees and food service workers.

Among the products region 2B members manufacture are the Chevy Silverado, Ford vans, Jeep Wrangler, Abrams tank and military Humvees. Members in the region also build transmissions, engines, missiles and other products.