Suzanne Bonamici, Democratic nominee in the special election congressional race in Oregon’s 1st District, has added several labor organizations to her list of endorsers. The special election to succeed Democrat David Wu, who resigned mid-term, is Jan. 31. Her opponent is tea party Republican Rob Cornilles.
Bonamici’s latest labor endorsement came Dec. 16 from the Oregon AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education (COPE). The state labor federation represents over 225,000 workers in Oregon, with 15,000 affiliated union members in the 1st District.
Bonamici, a state senator from Beaverton, was the top vote-getter in a special primary election held last month. Her primary opponents were State Rep. Brad Witt and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian. Witt is a former secretary-treasurer of the Oregon AFL-CIO and current union rep for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555. Both Brads have since endorsed Bonamici.
AFL-CIO unions backing Bonamici include the Oregon State Fire Fighters Council; Oregon Nurses Association; Oregon School Employees Association (OSEA)-American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Oregon AFSCME Council 75; OSEA-AFT Local 6732; and Fire Fighter locals from Tualatin Valley, Newberg, Forest Grove, Cornelius, Scappoose, Clatskanie, and Washington County District 2.
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, an affiliate of the Change to Win labor federation, endorsed Bonamici, as did the independent Oregon Education Association. Local 555 represents approximately 2,000 members in the 1st District.
At the Dec. 16 COPE meeting, the Oregon AFL-CIO issued an early endorsement for Avakian, who now is running for re-election as labor commissioner. Avakian is being challenged by Republican State Sen. Bruce Starr. The labor commissioner’s post is non-partisan, so if any candidate captures over 50 percent of the vote in the May primary, they will be declared the winner and will not be on the November general election ballot.
COPE delegates also voted to endorse the re-election of Secretary of State Kate Brown.
The endorsement was contingent upon her completing a satisfactory questionnaire, which all political candidates are asked to do.
Additionally, the Oregon AFL-CIO endorsed Jennifer Williamson for an open seat in House District 36, and Ben Unger in House District 29. Both are Democrats. HD 36 is being vacated by Mary Nolan, a Democrat running for Portland City Council. HD 29 is held by first-term Republican Katie Eyre. Another Democrat, Katie Riley, also has filed for the race. She lost to Eyre in 2010.
Delegates unanimously opposed Initiative Petition 3, which currently is gathering signatures in order to qualify for the November 2012 ballot. The anti-union initiative seeks to bar public employers from collecting union dues if any part goes toward political activities. Dubbed “paycheck deception” by labor, delegates amended the motion to include any initiatives involving paycheck deception, as several versions have been filed with the secretary of state.
The AFL-CIO will consider more endorsements when it meets again in early March.
