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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2014)
...Unions split in race for Multnomah County chair (From Page 4 don’t pay living wages. Francesconi disavowed those promises when Willamette Week asked about them, but later called the newspaper back to say he would stand by them. “It’s not what you promise, it’s what you do,” Kafoury says in her television ad. Kafoury has a jobs plan, too, but it starts with the County doing its job, for example helping homeless families get permanent housing. Kafoury wants the County to prioritize homeless services. She wants to achieve greater efficiency by reducing the County’s manager-to- staff ratio. Francesconi is endorsed by Operat- ing Engineers Local 701 and Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Car- penters (though Carpenters Local 156, which is part of the regional council, is endorsing Kafoury). He also has the endorsement of Carpenters Local 146, which represents exterior/interior spe- cialists, Portland Association of Teach- ers, and SEIU Locals 49 and 503. And, significantly, Francesconi has the en- dorsement of AFSCME Local 88, which represents County employees. Local 88’s endorsement decision was made by members following a PAGE 6 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS candidates forum, after its political committee split down the middle over who to endorse. As of late April, Francesconi’s campaign had raised $225,000, including $10,000 from AF- SCME and $5,000 from the Regional Council of Carpenters. He also has sig- nificant support from minority contrac- tors. Kafoury, meanwhile, has the en- dorsement of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council; Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council; Communications Workers of America Local 7901; IBEW Local 48; International Longshore and Ware- house Union; Iron Workers Local 29; Oregon Nurses Association; Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555; and the Oregon Working Families Party, a union-backed third party. Her campaign has raised close to $350,000 so far, including $5,000 con- tributions from Oregon Nurses Associ- ation and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 555 and $3,000 from IBEW Local 48. County Chair is a non-partisan race. Ballots were mailed April 30 and are due May 20. MAY 2, 2014
