Building trades’ Mohlis interested in PDC post

Organized labor has launched a campaign to get John Mohlis, executive secretary-treasurer of the Columbia-Pacific Building Trades Council, appointed to the Portland Development Commission, the quasi-independent development arm of the city of Portland.

Two of PDC’s longest serving members — Chair Eric Parsons and Secretary Doug Blomgren — will step down after their terms expire in July.

The five-person commission is appointed by Portland Mayor Tom Potter and must be confirmed by the City Council.

Potter already has appointed three commissioners since taking office in 2005. The newest commissioners are Sal Kadri, a business owner, Bertha Ferrán, a mortgage consultant, and Mark Rosenbaum, a partner in a financial services business.

Potter had indicated during his campaign and after his election in November 2004 that he would consider appointing someone from organized labor to the commission. Labor leaders were disappointed when that didn’t happen.

“The one thing lacking on this board for a long time has been a voice for the workers,” said Judy O’Connor, executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Building trades unions have worked with PDC in the past designing apprenticeship training and women and minority hiring programs. They have also fought with the agency over prevailing wage requirements on public-private projects that PDC helps fund.

Mohlis was elected to the building trades post last year. Prior to that he was business manager of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1. 

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