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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 16, 2008)
Union members don’t just vote — they run for office In Oregon, union members don’t just vote in elections; they run in them. The Northwest Labor Press was able to identify almost two dozen union members running for public office in the May primary. Of those running in partisan races, all but one are running as Democrats. Endorsed by: N Oregon AFSCME N NW Oregon Labor Council N SEIU Local 503 N UFCW Local 555 N Firefighters Assoc. of Clackamas County Local 1159 N Tualatin Valley firefighters Union Local 1660 N Governor John Kitzhaber N Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian N The Oregonian Editorial Board (April 25, 2008) See more endorsements and information at www.CharlotteLehan.com b h m k Bennett Hartman Morris & Kaplan, llp Attorneys at Law Oregon’s Full Service Union Law Firm Representing Workers Since 1960 Serious Injury and Death Cases Union members are especially plentiful in the Oregon Legislature, which meets six months every other year to make state law and pass state budgets. Oregon has a citizen Legisla- ture, in that lawmakers get a stipend while they’re in session, but not any- thing like a salary. Diane Rosenbaum is the senior member of the Capitol’s informal “la- bor caucus” and a long-time member of Communications Workers of Amer- ica (CWA) Local 7901. Rosenbaum started as a telephone operator in 1975, and rose to be her union’s vice president and a union lobbyist in Salem, and later, chief petitioner on a union-backed ballot measure that raised the minimum wage. First elected to the Legislature in 1998, Rosenbaum has served five terms as state rep in House District 42, Port- land, and now is running unopposed for Senate District 21, the seat being vacated by Kate Brown. Last year, Rosenbaum worked to pass a law to fight abuses in the initiative system. Rosenbaum is also president of the la- bor caucus at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Brad Witt, staff representative at United Food and Commercial Work- ers (UFCW) Local 555 and former secretary-treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO, is running for a third term as state representative in House Dis- trict 31, Clatskanie. He chairs the Workforce & Economic Development Committee, and last year helped pass a number of bills important to labor. Paul Holvey, on staff at Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Car- penters, is seeking a third term in House District 8 in Eugene. Holvey chairs the Consumer Protection Com- mittee and has worked to curb preda- tory mortgage lending. Jeff Barker, former president of the Portland Police Association, is running for a fourth term in House District 28, Aloha. Barker, a retired • Construction Injuries • Automobile Accidents • Medical, Dental, and Legal Malpractice • Bicycle and Motorcycle Accidents • Pedestrian Accidents • Premises Liability (injuries on premises) • Workers’ Compensation Injuries • Social Security Claims cal and has served on the bargaining lieutenant of the Portland Police Bu- reau, chairs the Veterans Affairs Com- team. Mitch Greenlick, a retired part- time sociology professor, helped mittee and is a staunch defender of found the union local at Portland State workers rights and public safety. University in the 1980s. He is running Mike Schaufler, seeking a fourth term in House District 48, Happy Val- for a fourth term representing House ley, is a building contractor and former District 33, Portland. Chip Shields is an AFT member by virtue of having member of the Laborers union. He taught criminal jus- chairs the Busi- classes at Port- ness and Labor The Northwest Labor tice land State University, committee, and Press was able to and has close ties to last year shep- labor overall; he was herded a package identify almost two named a Labor Cam- of bills through dozen union members paign Hero by the the House that Oregon AFL-CIO for were aimed at ex- running for public his help on the mini- panding workers office in Oregon’s mum wage ballot right to unionize. measure, and worked Greg May primary. for a time for Oregon Matthews, a Gre- Tradeswomen, Inc. sham fire fighter Shields is running for and member of In- a third term in House District 43, Port- ternational Association of Fire Fight- land. And incumbents Carolyn Tomei ers (IAFF) Local 1062, is unopposed in House District 41, Milwaukie, and in the Democratic primary for House Margaret Carter in Senate District District 50, Gresham. Matthews will challenge Republican incumbent John 22, Portland, are also one-time AFT members. Lim in what is likely to be a competi- Laurie Monnes-Anderson, a reg- tive race in November. istered nurse and member of the Ore- Ed Glad, a lobbyist for the Car- gon Nurses Association (ONA), is penters Union, is running a vigorous campaign for the Republican nomina- running unopposed for a second term in Senate District 25, Gresham. tion in House District 24, McMin- Mark Hass, running for re-elec- nville. Glad is one of three running to tion in Senate District 14, Beaverton, fill the seat being vacated by State was a long-time member of American Rep. Donna Nelson, who is running Federation of Television & Radio for Yamhill County Commission. Artists (AFTRA) as a reporter at Six legislative candidates are or KATU-TV. have been members of the American Nancy Nathanson, a University of Federation of Teachers (AFT). Oregon librarian and former member Michael Dembrow, vice-president of AFT-Oregon, is running a strong first- of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503, is running time campaign in House District 45, for a second term in House District Portland. Dembrow, long-time presi- 13, Eugene. dent of AFT’s Portland Community Two other state representatives are College, faces two other candidates for the Democratic nomination. Larry at least nominal unionists through past Galizio, a full-time Portland Commu- membership in the Oregon Education Association (OEA): Arnie Roblan, nity College journalism instructor, is House District 9, Coos Bay; and Betty seeking third term in House District Komp, House District 22, Woodburn. 35, Tigard. Galizio is active in his lo- Both were teachers who later became school principals. Union members also show up in lo- (Turn to Page 4) (International Standard Serial Number 0894-444X) Established in 1900 at Portland, Oregon as a voice of the labor movement. 4275 NE Halsey St., P.O. Box 13150, Portland, Ore. 97213 Telephone: (503) 288-3311 Fax Number: (503) 288-3320 Editor: Michael Gutwig Staff: Don McIntosh, Cheri Rice Published on a semi-monthly basis on the first and third Fridays of each month by the Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc., a non- profit corporation owned by 20 unions and councils including the Oregon AFL-CIO. Serving more than 120 union organizations in Ore- gon and SW Washington. Subscriptions $13.75 per year for union members. Group rates available to trade union organizations. We Work Hard for Hard-Working People! 111 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1650 Portland, Oregon 97204 (503) 227-4600 www.bennetthartman.com PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT PORTLAND, OREGON. CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE: Three weeks are required for a change of address. When ordering a change, please give your old and new addresses and the name and number of your local union. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS, P.O. BOX 13150-0150, PORTLAND, OR 97213 Our Legal Staff are Proud Members of UFCW Local 555 PAGE 2 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS MAY 16, 2008
