nwlaborpress.org | Labor groups issue endorsements in May primary

April 2, 2010 Volume 111 Number 7

May Primary Endorsements

NW Oregon Labor Council endorses in Multnomah County, Washington County races

The Northwest Oregon Labor Council has endorsed Jeff Cogen for chair of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. The labor council previously had endorsed incumbent Ted Wheeler, but prior to the March 9 filing deadline. Wheeler left to accept an appointment from Gov. Ted Kulongoski to serve as state treasurer. The appointment came following the death of Ben Westlund. Wheeler then filed to run for treasurer in the May primary.

Upon Wheeler’s departure, Cogen, who had filed to run for re-election as Multnomah County commissioner in District 2, withdrew to run for County chair.

Eight candidates then filed to run for Cogen’s open seat in District 2. One of them, Tom Markgraf, was endorsed by the labor council.

Markgraf is a public policy consultant and former staffer to Congressman Earl Blumenauer. He has been involved in the Columbia River Crossing and other transportation issues for many years. Markgraf supports building a new bridge over the Columbia River.

In addition to Cogen and Markgraf, the labor council endorsed Dan Staton for Multnomah County sheriff and Dick Schouten for chair of the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

Schouten is currently a Washington County commissioner representing the Aloha, Beaverton, and Cooper Mountain area. He has held the seat since 2000.

Longtime Washington County Chair Tom Brian is not seeking re-election.

Building trades council backs Saltzman, Fish

The Columbia Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council has endorsed the re-election of Portland City Commissioners Dan Saltzman and Nick Fish.

The organization comprised of construction unions also supports Jeff Cogen for Multnomah County chair; Tom Markgraf for Multnomah County commissioner; Rex Burkholder for Metro president; Duke Shepard for Metro councilor; and the re-election of for Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Lininger.
Cogen, Markgraf, Burkholder and Shepard are running for open seats.
The Oregon primary election is May 18.

Oregon AFSCME backs Kitzhaber

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75 has endorsed John Kitzhaber in the Democratic primary for governor.

The former two-term governor is challenging Bill Bradbury, who served as secretary of state from 1999 to 2009. Current Gov. Ted Kulongoski is term-limited and cannot run for re-election.p> The AFSCME endorsement marks the 24th labor endorsement for Kitzhaber, who also picked up the support of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 5 and the United Steelworkers Union.

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