Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2020)
PAge 4 | May 1, 2020 | NortHWest lABor Press A union guide to Oregon’s May 19 primary election Ballots can be confusing and crowded. In this guide, lists only can- didates who have opponents on the ballot, and only those who have at least one union endorsing them. Can- didates are listed in the order you’ll find them on the ballot. It’s too late to register to vote or change party affili- ation. Ballots were mailed Apr. 29 and are due back May 19. WHere Are tHe rePuBlIcANs? For generations, unions have prided themselves on maintaining independ- ence from the two major political par- ties. That stance is even baked into the names of some union political commit- tees, like the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League or the Teamsters’ De- mocrat Republican Independent Voter Education (DRIVE) committee. DeMocrAtIc PrIMAry feDerAl offIce u.s. senate jeff Merkley is seeking a third six-year term. It would be hard to find a stronger labor ally than Merkley, who works harder than any other Oregon member of Congress to stay in touch with Oregon’s labor movement. The national AFL-CIO gives him a 99% lifetime voting record in Congress. AFL-CIO, UFCW Jeffmerkley.com u.s. House of representatives Congressional District 1 (Portland/NW Oregon) suzanne Bonamici voted in 2015 to fast-track NAFTA-style trade deals, but other than that, she’s been a reliably pro-labor Democrat, and co-sponsored the PRO Act labor law reform bill. AFL-CIO, IAFF, IBT, IU- PAT, OEA, SEIU, UFCW Bonamiciforcongress.com Congressional District 2 (Bend/Eastern Oregon) Nik Heuertz is a Rogue Valley native and former owner of a local cell phone retail chain, running to succeed Greg Walden. He’s for Medicare for All and a Green New Deal. WFP NIKforCongress.com Congressional District 3 (Portland/E.Multnomah Co.) earl Blumenauer is seeking a seventh term. He voted for fast track in 2015, but national AFL-CIO rates him 93% for his lifetime pro-labor voting record. AFL-CIO, AFSCME, IAFF, IBT, IUPAT, OEA, UFCW EarlBlumenauer.com Albert lee an Army veteran and academic dean at PCC, he’s running an insurgent campaign against an incumbent he says is too removed from the economic crisis regular people face. AFT AlbertLee2020.com Congressional District 4 (Eugene/ SW Oregon) Peter Defazio is Oregon’s longest-serving incum- bent in office since 1987. He’s a fierce critic of NAFTA- style deals and a big proponent of infrastructure in- vestment. AFL-CIO, AFT, IBT, OEA, UFCW, WFP defazioforcongress.org Doyle canning is a community organizer and envi- ronmental law grad who opposes the Jordan Cove pipeline terminal project and corporate influence in politics. AFT 3544 CanningForCongress.com Congressional District 5 (Salem/Clackamas/Coast) Mark gamba, the mayor of Milwaukie, is challeng- ing five-term incumbent Kurt Schrader, who has one of the worst labor records of any Democrat in the House. Not only has Schrader voted for every NAFTA- style trade treaty, but he voted to restrict unioniza- tion on Indian reservations, sponsored a bill to stop slowdowns by longshore workers, and has engaged in public carping against the national AFL-CIO. This February he was one of only seven Democrats to vote against a bill to make it easier to unionize and elimi- nate anti-union “right to work” laws. Half a dozen na- tional unions have given a total of about $20,000 to Schrader in the last two years, but no local union ap- pears to back him, and his campaign declined to list any union endorsers or provide a list of union en- dorsers to the Labor Press. With a $3 million cam- paign war chest full of contributions from business groups, Schrader may not feel he needs labor sup- port. Meanwhile, Gamba is a well-like mayor who helped build affordable housing and pass a $15-an- hour minimum wage for city employees. He’s a big advocate of Medicare for All and a Green New Deal. AFM, AFT, IBT, ILWU, SEIU, WFP MarkGamba.com stAteWIDe secretary of state Oregon’s Secretary of State oversees elections and ballot initiatives, business registration and state archives, audits state agencies…and becomes governor in case of a vacancy. shemia fagan is an employment law attorney and six-year state legislator. She challenged and toppled an incumbent Senate Democrat who stood in the way of tenant rights reform, and then helped pass a statewide rent control law. The Oregon AFL-CIO named her working family champion in 2019. She voted against last year’s bill to cut PERS contribu- tions. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, OEA, OSEA, SEIU ShemiaForOregon.com Mark Hass is a former TV journalist and a state law- maker since 2001. In the Senate, he’s been one of the more difficult Democrats for labor, killing bills in un- recorded closed-door Senate Democratic caucus meetings. He also helped craft last year’s Student Success Act. He voted to cut PERS contributions. IBT MarkHass.com oregoN seNAte Oregon’s 30 state senators serve four-year terms. Every two years, half are up for election. Of the 18 senate seats held by Democrats, seven are up this year. Three are open seats: Arnie Roblan of Coos Bay and Laurie Monnes Anderson of Gresham aren’t running again, and Mark Hass of Beaverton is running for secretary of state. Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins, a supporter of the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline and terminal, is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination to succeed Roblan. Ginny Burdick of Portland is the only incumbent state senator to face a primary challenge. Three Democrats are also vying to take on Republican Brian Boquist in Dallas, none with labor backing. Senate District 14 (Beaverton) Incumbent Mark Hass is running for secretary of state. kate lieber is a former domestic abuse prosecutor who teaches criminal justice at PCC and chairs the Board of homeless non-profit Transition Projects. AFL- CIO, AFSCME, AFT, IAFF, IBEW 48, IUPAT, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, OSEA, SEIU, UBC, UFCW KateForOregon.com Dick schouten is a longtime Washington County commissioner and is married to state rep Sheri Mal- strom. IBT DickSchouten.com Senate District 18 (Westside Portland) Sadly, one party is increasingly hos- tile to unions altogether. It didn’t used to be that way, but today’s Republican can- didates don’t ask for—and don’t want— endorsements from unions. Two years ago, Oregon Teamsters sent an endorsement letter and $500 to a Republican legislative candidate. The candidate sent it back, saying it could hurt him with Republican voters. In office since 1997, incumbent Ginny Burdick is the longest-serving Democrat in the Senate and the current state Senate majority leader. She appears to have NO union support for re-election. Ben Bowman, a Tigard-Tualatin School Board member, school district lobbyist and former legisla- tive staffer, is challenging longtime incumbent Ginny Burdick. He wants Oregon to pass Clean Energy Jobs bill, campaign finance reform, and expand mental health and addiction treatment OBTC, IBEW 48, OEA, OSEA, BenForOregon.com We’re aware of only one union-en- dorsed Oregon Republican in this year’s primary: Restaurant owner Justin Hwang, running for Oregon Senate Dis- trict 25 in East Multnomah County, is endorsed by the Oregon Building Trades Council. We don’t list him below be- cause he’s unopposed for the Republi- can nomination, and we’re only listing candidates who have opposition. ForOregon.org christina stephenson is a civil rights attorney who worked with unions to craft a 2017 fair scheduling law and a 2019 law requiring employers to have poli- cies for employees to report discrimination and sex- ual assault. AFL-CIO, OBTC, ATU 757, Boilermakers 104, IAFF, IBEW 48, ILWU, IUPAT, LiUNA, OEA, ONA, UBC ChristinaStephenson.com House District 36 (Portland) Incumbent Democrat Jennifer Williamson declined to run for re- election so she could run for secretary of state, but then dropped out. oregoN House of rePreseNtAtIVes rob fullmer is an IT specialist at PSU, and a union All 60 state house seats are up every two years. Only eight have more than one Democrat seeking the seat. Six of those are open seats where the incumbnt isn’t running. Only one incumbent is facing a primary challenge - Rob Nosse of Portland. House District 19 (Salem) Republican Raquel Moore-Green was appointed to this seat to replace Denys Boles, who was appointed to the state senate when Republican Jackie Winters died. jackie leung is a Salem City Council member, a for- mer member of the Coalition of Graduate Employees at Oregon State University, and a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate School. IBEW 280 JackieForOregon.org House District 28 (Aloha/Beaverton) Incumbent Democrat Jeff Barker declined to run for re-election Wlnsvey campos is a case manager for a housing non-profit, and a former political organizer for the Oregon Nurses Association and the union-backed group Our Oregon. She wants more affordable hous- ing and a higher minimum wage. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AF- SCME, AFT, IAFF, IUPAT, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, SEIU, UBC, UFCW camposfororegon.com House District 32 (Astoria) Incumbent Democrat Tiffiny Mitchell, an SEIU member who voted to cut her fellow members pensions, declined to run for re-election after serving just one term, and didn’t announce until the filing deadline. Debbie Boothe-schmidt is a trial assistant at Clat- sop County and former president of her local union, AFSCME Local 2746. SEIU DebbieForOregon.com House District 33 (Portland) Incumbent Democrat Mitch Greenlick declined to run for re-election serin Bussell worked in procurement for three years at Metro, and served as a shop steward there with AFSCME Local 3580. She left to run Charles Gallia’s unsuccessful campaign for state senate, and then served as chief of staff for State Sen. Jeff Golden. She’s a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate School. She favors public financing of elections. AFT, AFSCME SerinForStateRep.com Maxine Dexter, a critical care doctor and former member of the board of Kaiser Permanente, is an ad- vocate of universal health care. IBT, OFNHP Maxine- ForOregon.com Andy saultz, an education professor at Pacific Uni- versity, was formerly a teachers union member in Michigan. He’s a graduate of the Oregon Labor Candi- date School. OSEA, Insulators, Glaziers 740. Andy- steward and member of the SEIU Local 503 executive board. A graduate of the Oregon Labor Candidate School, he wants to end Oregon’s income tax kicker and improve school funding. AFT, SEIU RobForOregon.com laurie Wimmer is a longtime lobbyist for the Ore- gon Education Association, Oregon’s teachers union, and is considered an expert on the state budget. She wants to enact tax reforms so that big corporations and the wealthy pay more. AFL-CIO, AFM, AFSCME, AFF, IAFF, IBEW 48, IBT, LiUNA, OEA, OFNHP, ONA, OSEA, UBC, UFCW, WFP LaurieForOregon.com House District 42 (Portland) Paige kreisman is a trans woman, army veteran, and housing activist. She’s challenging Rob Nosse be- cause of his vote to cut PERS. She wants to fight for campaign finance reform, affordable housing, and a Green New Deal. AFSCME, AFT, CWA, OEA, OSEA Paige2020.com rob Nosse is a union rep for Oregon Nurses Associa- tion (and member of Teamsters Local 223). He’s seek- ing a fo----urth term in the House. He wants to champion universal healthcare and an end to public college tuition. IBT, ONA, UFCW RobNosse.com House District 46 (Portland) Incumbent Democrat Alissa Keny-Guyer declined to run for re-election khanh Pham is an organizer with OPAL Environ- mental Justice Oregon, and helped organize a grad student union at PSU. She wants Oregon to pass an Green New Deal and build more affordable housing. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AFSCME, AFT, IBEW 48, IBT, IUPAT, OEA, SEIU, UFCW KhanhPhamForOregon.com House District 50 (Gresham) Incumbent Democrat Carla Piluso declined to run for re-election ricki ruiz is the community services coordinator for the City of Gresham and a member of the Reynolds School Board. He wants Oregon to invest more in schools, affordable housing, crime prevention, and mental health support. AFL-CIO, OBTC, AFSCME, IBEW 48, OEA, OFNHP, OSEA, UFCW, WFP Ricki4oregon.com William Miller is an advocacy manager at the Na- tive American Youth and Family Center. He wants the justice system to use alternatives to incarceration. AFT, IBT William4oregon.com
