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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 3, 2012)
NW Oregon Labor Council endorses Lehan for Clackamas County chair The Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- cil has endorsed Charlotte Lehan for Clackamas County chair. Lehan — who was appointed chair of the five-member Board of County Commissioners two years ago, follow- ing the resignation of Lynn Peterson — finished second in a four-person non- partisan primary in May. The top vote- getter in the primary was Tea Party can- didate John Ludlow, a former half-term mayor of Wilsonville who raked in more than $100,000 in campaign con- tributions from mostly out-of-state cor- porations. The other candidates in the race were current Clackamas County Commissioner Paul Savas, a Republi- can, and Democratic State Rep. Dave Hunt. Savas will retain his seat on the Board through 2014. The Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- cil endorsed Hunt in the primary. Lehan, a Democrat, also is a former mayor of Wilsonville, having served in that post for 12 years. She was elected to the Clackamas County Board in 2008. Prior to her stint as mayor, she served on the Wilsonville City Council. Bob Tackett, executive secretary- treasurer of the Northwest Oregon La- bor Council, said the Tea Party, Ameri- cans for Prosperity and the conservative right have targeted Clackamas County, with rich donors like Loren Parks of Nevada (a financial backer of Bill Size- more), Stimson Lumber, and the Koch Brothers dumping tens of thousands of dollars into the election. “There is a stark comparison be- tween Chair Lehan and Ludlow,” Tack- ett said. “Ludlow is anti-development and anti-government. Chair Lehan is a consensus builder who has a record of getting things done.” Tackett pointed to a resolution Lehan helped pass last year that calls on Clackamas County to prioritize local source hiring and family wage jobs when letting contracts. In addition to Lehan, NOLC has en- dorsed Jamie Damon for the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, Posi- tion 4. Damon, a Democrat, was ap- pointed to the seat in 2011 when Lehan was elevated to the chair position. This (Turn to Page 4) Blood drive challenge issued at Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park The Northwest Oregon Labor Coun- cil and American Red Cross are team- ing up this Labor Day for a blood drive competition at the Labor Day picnic at Oaks Park. Regular attendees of the picnic know that the Red Cross always brings a bloodmobile to the picnic for blood do- nations. Typically, 30 to 35 pints of blood are collected, with the record be- ing 70 pints. This year, the challenge is to collect 120 pints of blood. According to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in America gets a blood transfusion. Five million patients will need blood this year, but blood donations are down in the first seven months of 2012, with an urgent need for types O negative (the univer- sal blood type), and B negative. One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Three bloodmobiles will be parked at this year’s Labor Day picnic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Teresa Rodruguez, donor recruitment representative for the American Red Cross, is asking that union members pre-register so that donations can be collected as quickly as possible. The blood dona- tion process takes about an hour. When registering, union affilia- tions will be tracked. The union with the most members donating will re- ceive a “traveling trophy” to keep in their union hall until next Labor Day. Other participation awards will be presented to individuals and unions. Rodriguez asks that union mem- bers pre-register by Wednesday, Aug. 15. You can do so on line at www.red- crossblood.org; plug in sponsor code: NWLP; or call 1-800-733-2767. Labor Day PICNICS Labor Day – Monday, Sept. 3 Every year, labor unions throughout Oregon hold Labor Day picnics. Here is a list of picnics taking place: BEND — Solidarity Day Picnic at Pioneer Park in Bend. 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Central Oregon Central Labor Council. Contact Linda Bradetich at 541-350-0965 or Steve Williamsen at 541-678-0235 for more information. EUGENE/SPRINGFIELD — John Lively Picnic Shelters, behind SPLASH at 6100 Thurston Road in Springfield. Noon – 4 p.m. Please bring a side dish. SPLASH will offer a swim rate for picnic participants that wish to use the wave pool. Sponsored by the Lane County Central Labor Council. Contact Cj Mann at 541-606-9203 for more information. MEDFORD — TouVelle State Park, 8425 Table Rock Road, Central Point. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Donations accepted and there is a $5 charge for parking. Sponsored by the Southern Oregon Central Labor Council. Call Kathy McUne at 541-664-0804 for more information. NORTH BEND — Ferry Road Park in North Bend. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sponsored by the Southwestern Oregon Central Labor Council. Asking for donation of non-perishable food items for the needy. For more information, contact Robert Westerman at 541-756-3907 or ibew932@frontier.com, or Kay Nelson at 541-756-0579 or knelson@ufcw555.org. PORTLAND — Oaks Amusement Park in Southeast Portland. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with a brief program at 1 p.m., featuring U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley. Food scrip sells for 50 cents. Deluxe ride bracelets are $9. Sponsored by the Northwest Oregon Labor Council. Call 503-235-9444 for more information. The Oregon Pacific Railroad Shuttle Train will transport people ($3 per person roundtrip) to and from Oaks Park from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking will be available at the Portland Opera, 211 SE Caruthers St., and in the vicinity of SE Ivon and 4th Street. SALEM — Riverfront Park in Salem. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Sponsored by Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Council. Cost: two food items per person or donation to the food bank. Call Judy at 503-362-7057 or jsug- net@att.net for more information. THE DALLES — Sorosis Park Shelter in The Dalles. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Potluck. Sponsored by Mid-Columbia Central Labor Council. Call Walt Denstedt at 541-298-4783 for more information. OREGON STATE FAIR - The Oregon AFL-CIO labor booth in the Central Canopy area continues to be staffed with union volunteers during the entire two weeks of the fair, including Labor Day. AUGUST 3, 2012 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS PAGE 3
