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-
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NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
MAY 16, 2008