Bush wins nationally, Kerry takes Oregon and Washington

Helped by a huge voter turnout by union members, the Democratic presidential ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards captured Oregon and Washington on Election Day. However, at press time Nov. 3, it appeared George W. Bush would win the election.

Bush was projected to have won 29 states, with 274 electoral votes. Kerry had a projected 252 electoral votes.

Besides the presidency, voters were filling 34 U.S. Senate seats and all 435 U.S. House seats. Republicans picked up three seats in the Senate and House to maintain control of both chambers. At press time the GOP had won 229 seats in the House and 53 in the Senate.

It was with the help of the union vote that Oregon returned Democrat Ron Wyden to the U.S. Senate and Democrats David Wu, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Darlene Hooley back to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Wu endured a nasty challenge by Republican Goli Ameri, capturing 58 percent of the votes in the First District. Hooley finished with nearly 54 percent of the vote in her Fifth Congressional District.

In statewide races, labor-endorsed candidates registered a clean sweep, led by the re-election of Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, Attorney General Hardy Myers and Treasurer Randall Edwards. All are Democrats.

In Washington State, Democrat Patty Murray was easily re-elected to the U.S. Senate, as was Third District Congressman Brian Baird. In a closer race, Democrat Christine Gregoire at press time was too close to call in her race for governor against ultra-conservative Republican Dino Rossi. A Republican has not won the governor’s seat in Washington in 24 years.

In the Oregon Senate, victories by Democrats Alan Bates in the 3rd District (Jacksonville); Joanne Verger in the 5th District (Coos Bay) and Laurie Monnes-Anderson in the 25th District (Gresham), were enough to give Democrats control of that chamber 18-12.

Republicans retained control of the Oregon House, albeit by a narrower margin then they did in the last session (35 to 25). Democrats picked up two seats and remain in the minority 33-27.

Several labor-endorsed union members were re-elected to the House, including Paul Holvey of the Carpenters Union in Eugene’s 8th District, retired Portland Police Association president Jeff Barker in Aloha’s 28th District; Chuck Riley of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in Hillsboro’s 29th District; Mitch Greenlick of AFT in Portland’s 33rd District; Larry Galizio of AFT in Tigard’s 35th District; Diane Rosenbaum of the Communications Workers of America in Portland’s 42nd District; Gary Hansen of Plumbers and Fitters Local 290, in Portland’s 44th District; Steve March of AFT in Portland’s 46th District; and Mike Schaufler of the Laborers in Happy Valley’s 48th District.

Three of four ballot measures opposed by the Oregon AFL-CIO were defeated by voters, including Measures 34, 35 and 38. Measure 38 would have abolished SAIF, the state workers’ compensation carrier; Measure 35 would have capped non-economic damages due to medical errors; and Measure 34 restricted timber production.

Another measure that labor opposed, Measure 37, was approved by voters. The measure requires governments to waive land protection rules that reduce property values, or pay the owners the difference.

In Clark County, Washington, Proposition 1, an increase in the local sales tax dedicated to public transit, was rejected by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin. The measure had the backing of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, and its failure means 110 C-TRAN bus drivers may expect to be laid off.

In the City of Portland, labor-backed Jim Francesconi was beaten by former police chief Tom Potter for mayor, while Sam Adams edged Nick Fish for a vacant seat on the Portland City Council. Adams was endorsed by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 while Fish had support from public employee and building trades unions. The City Council seat was vacated by Francesconi in order to run for mayor.

In West Linn, city councilor Norm King, a member of AFSCME Local 3336, was elected mayor with over 63 percent of the vote.

Damon Mabee, a field representative of Portland-based Laborers Local 483, was elected to the Oregon City city council with nearly 54 percent of the vote.

In Coos County, Oregon, incumbent county commissioner John Griffith survived a challenge from an opponent who was heavily backed by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council 75. AFSCME went after Griffith after he refused to meet with the union at all and opposed health coverage for county employees . Challenger Joe Whitsett got 47 percent of the vote. Council 75 President Ken Allen said, “win, lose, or draw,” the union wanted to send a message.

For the first time, Oregon broke the 2 million mark in registered voters. Of that, voter turnout was 78.47 percent, according to the Oregon Elections Division.

Tim Nesbitt, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, expected union voter turnout to exceed 90 percent of the 227,000 union household voters. “I feel very good about how we did in Oregon. When we have a high turnout, candidates who support working families issues do well,” Nesbitt said.

© Oregon Labor Press Publishing Co. Inc.