Oregon AFL-CIO's Shepard runs for open Metro board seat

Duke Shepard, political director of the Oregon AFL-CIO, announced his candidacy for Metro Council, District 1. The seat is currently held by Rod Park, but he is term limited and cannot run for re-election in 2010.

Metro is a regional government that serves more than 1.5 million residents in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, and 25 cities in the Portland metropolitan area.

District 1 serves east Multnomah County, including Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview and a portion of Portland.

The council is responsible for urban growth boundary management, transportation planning, waste disposal planning and recycling, preservation of natural areas, and habitat restoration. It operates the Oregon Zoo, Oregon Convention Center, and various venues for exhibits and performing arts.

Shepard, 37, is getting an early start in the race, which isn’t until May 2010. Last week he picked up endorsements from the Northwest Oregon Labor Council and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48. Shepard is a member of Local 48.

Shepard told delegates at the Aug. 24 monthly meeting of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council that he first started thinking about a Metro seat two years ago when representatives from the regional government came to the Oregon Legislature to testify against increasing the minimum wage. His mind was made up this legislative session when Metro went to Salem to oppose a labor-backed proposal to reform the public employee collective bargaining system.

“There are a lot of things that Metro can be doing — like building bridges over the Columbia River — rather than fighting workers,” Shepard said.

Earlier that day, Shepard told the NOLC Executive Board that he supports the proposed 12-lane Columbia River Crossing.

Shepard said Metro will be facing some very difficult regional planning issues in the coming years that will impact everyone’s quality of life.

“I’ll be there for middle-class workers and for creating good jobs,” he said. “I don’t see a voice for workers on the current Metro Council.”

Shepard joined the Oregon AFL-CIO as the political/campaign director in January 2006.

A graduate of the University of Oregon, he began his career in 1994 working as a field coordinator on John Kitzhaber’s campaign for Oregon governor. He managed the successful 1996 initiative campaign to raise Oregon’s minimum wage and, after that, he went to work as an organizer for the Oregon Nurses Association.

In 2004, Shepard managed the re-election campaign of Congressman Peter DeFazio.

Before joining the Oregon AFL-CIO, Shepard worked for the Portland Business Alliance, where he helped create a regional business plan.

Additionally, Shepard serves as an elected member of the Board of Directors for Mt. Hood Community College.

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