Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current, December 07, 2012, Image 4

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Northwest labor press., December 07, 2012, Page 4, Image 4

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Newspaper Page TextAvakian thanks unionists for campaign help Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian paid a visit to the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council Executive Board meeting Nov. 27 to thank union officials for their help in his recent re- election campaign. Avakian turned back a challenge from Republican state Sen. Bruce Starr, winning the nonpartisan race with 52.6 percent of the vote. Rank-and-file union members played a big role in the outcome, leaflet- ing jobsites prior to, and after work, for weeks before Election Day. A key talk- ing point was Starr’s support of a right- to-work law for Oregon, and his pledge to lower prevailing wages. Avakian told union officials that he will push for more funding for high school shop classes in the 2013 legisla- tive session. Avakian championed a bill in 2011 to fund new and expanded ca- reer and technical education (CTE) pro- grams at high schools. The result of that legislation, he said, was 21 schools opened the school year with full shop classes. Avakian said he will seek $20 mil- lion in the next session. “This will get us three times as many shop classes if we get this,” he said. In response to a question about the PAGE 4 Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian on election night. Columbia River Crossing, Avakian said he is a “huge advocate” for a new bridge and will do all that he can to make sure that it gets built. Avakian reported that he is down to a short list of candidates to replace Leg- islative Director Kate Newhall, who re- signed following the election to travel the world. Newhall has worked for Avakian since he was first appointed la- bor commissioner in 2008. Prior to that she worked on his 2006 campaign for state Senate. Gone, too, will be Deputy Labor Commissioner Doug McKean, who is retiring at the end of the year. His suc- cessor is Christie Hammond, the ad- ministrator of BOLI’s Wage and Hour Division. She started in her new post Dec. 1. McKean has served more than 20 (Turn to Page 8) NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS DECEMBER 7, 2012