Avakian 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