Labor-backed candidates in Washington
advance from primary, look to November
ENJOY
LABOR DAY
YOU’VE EARNED IT!
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Laborers
Local 296
Labor-endorsed gubernatorial candi-
date Jay Inslee and incumbent U.S. Sen.
Maria Cantwell advanced through
Washington’s primary Aug. 7.
Under Washington’s “top two” pri-
mary system, the top two vote-getters
move on to the general election, regard-
less of party.
Inslee, a former Democratic con-
gressman who left mid-term to run for
the open governor’s chair, was the top
vote-getter (46.5 percent) among nine
candidates. His opponent in November
will be Republican Attorney General
Rob McKenna (43.5 percent).
Cantwell, a Democrat in her second
term in the U.S. Senate, captured 55
percent of the vote in an eight-person
race. She faces Republican state Sen.
Michael Baumgartner in November.
Inslee and Cantwell were endorsed
by most unions, as well as the Wash-
ington State Labor Council.
In other statewide primary races, la-
bor-endorsed candidates advancing to
the general election included Bob Fer-
guson for attorney general, Brad Owen
for lieutenant governor, Kathleen Drew
for secretary of state, and Mike Kreidler
for insurance commissioner.
With help from labor, incumbent Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction
Randy Dorn won re-election after earn-
ing 55.5 percent of the vote against four
unknown candidates. The state’s top ed-
ucation post and judicial races are de-
cided in the primary if one candidate re-
ceives more than 50 percent of the vote.
In races for the Washington Sup-
Union favorite Joe
reme Court, Susan
Tanner will meet incum-
Owens captured 64
bent Clark County Com-
percent of the vote in
missioner Tom Mielke in
Position 2 and Steven
November. Mielke took
Gonzalez collected 58
40 percent of the vote to
percent of the vote in
Tanner’s 31 percent in a
Position 8 to win out-
five-person race in Dis-
right. Both were en-
trict 1.
dorsed by labor.
In District 2, Democ-
A WSLC dual en-
rat Roman Battan fell a
dorsement for
couple hundred votes
Supreme Court Posi-
J AY I NSLEE
short of second place to
tion 9 fell short, with
two-term Republican in-
Bruce Hilyer and John
cumbent Marc Boldt. Republican mil-
Ladenburg finishing third and fourth,
lionaire David Madore was the top vote
respectively, in a four-person race.
In legislative races involving candi- getter, with 32.6 percent. Boldt had 29.5
dates in Southwest Washington, labor- percent and Battan, who was running in
endorsed Tim Probst finished second his first political race, captured 28 per-
behind incumbent Republican state sen- cent of the vote.
Labor-endorsed Dave Gregerson
ator Don Benton in District 17. The two
pulled off a stunning victory over Clark
will square off again in November.
Union member Monica Stonier, a County Superior Court Judge John
school teacher, and Jim Gizzi advanced Wulle, defeating him 54.5 percent to 45
in their respective House races in Dis- percent. It is the first time in 37 years
that a sitting judge has lost a re-election
trict 17.
In District 49, labor-backed Annette bid.
Gregerson, a private practice lawyer
Cleveland outpolled former Oregon leg-
islator Eileen Qutub for an open state from Vancouver, doesn’t take office un-
Senate seat. They will meet again in til Jan. 1, 2013.
In a seven-person race for Clark
November. Incumbent District 49 rep-
resentatives Sharon Wylie and Jim Public Utilities commissioner, union
Moeller each advanced to the general electrician Philip Parker finished out of
election as well. Both had backing from the running behind Jim Malinowski and
Julia Anderson.
several union locals.
Voter turnout in Clark County was
In Clark County, two of four candi-
dates endorsed by the Southwest Wash- 30.48 percent. Statewide, just over 36
ington Central Labor Council advanced percent of registered voters cast ballots
in the all-mail election.
to the general election.
4545 NE 102nd Ave.
Portland, Oregon
Kenneth Morgan
Business Manager
503-256-5716
Special Recognition
to Workers Everywhere
happy labor day!
OREgOn StAtE Building And
COnStRuCtiOn tRAdES COunCil
JOhn MOhliS
Executive Secretary
503-788-7153
www.oregonbuildingtrades.com/
PAGE 12
3535 SE 86th Ave.
Portland, OR 97266
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
AUGUST 17, 2012