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Steelworker Mike Sullivan seeks Yamhill Co. post

McMINNVILLE —Mike Sullivan, a 25-year member of Steelworkers Local 8378 and president of the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Counties Labor Council, has filed to run for Seat 2 on the Yamhill County Board of Commissioners.

The post is held by former Republican legislator Leslie Lewis. In three terms as a state representative, Lewis compiled an 11 percent labor voting record tracked by the Oregon AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education.

The race will be the first run on a non-partisan basis in Yamhill County and the outcome should be final in the May 18 primary unless one of them fails to secure a 50 percent plus one majority.

Sullivan, a Democrat and former president of Local 8378, will retire from Cascade Steel in September. He has never run for public office, while Lewis is a veteran politician.

“I think you’ll find that we’re completely opposite on most issues” Sullivan said.

Sullivan has a bachelor of arts degree in labor history from the National Labor College in Maryland and is presently working on his masters in union leadership and administration through the University of Massachusetts.

He is a veteran of the United States Navy, serving during the Vietnam War. He has been a unionist, labor and political activist with concentration on the rights and needs of farmworkers, working families, business, human rights issues, education for all, and the needs and rights of children for more than 20 years.

Sullivan said his work within the community, his advocacy for both union and company, and his work within multiple committees will help him to achieve an independent voice for progress in Yamhill County.

“Citizens rightly expect a commissioner to listen and be knowledgeable to both sides of an issue and then make a sound, fair decision while at the same time staying fiscally responsible,” Sullivan said. “I can do that.”

Sullivan is a proponent of family values and he opposes any form of a sales tax.

Sullivan is married to Gerry, a registered nurse. They have three children. Two are finished with college and their youngest is a student at Patton Middle School.

Nick Fish lands more labor endorsements

Labor attorney Nick Fish has won endorsements from the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council, Electrical Workers Local 125 and Oregon Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37 in his race for Portland City Council.

“When we interviewed the candidates, Nick made our decision easy. He’s more in tune with the issues of working-class people and he’ll bring that commitment to City Hall,” said Joint Council President Tony Andrews.

Fish has the backing of several public employee unions at the city, including American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 189; Municipal Employees Laborers Local 483, and the District Council of Trade Unions.

The council seat is being vacated by Jim Francesconi, who is running for mayor.

Fish’s opponent is Sam Adams, a former aide to Mayor Vera Katz. Katz is not seeking re-election.

Adams has been endorsed by Oregon’s largest private-sector union, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555.

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