The Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council interviewed candidates for political office March 5 and issued endorsements for the May primary.
In the only statewide contested primary race, the Council is backing Dwight Holton for attorney general. Incumbent John Kroger is not running for re-election after one term. Holten, a U.S. attorney, has competition from retired Appeals Court Judge Ellen Rosenblum. The winner of the primary will be the next state attorney general, as no other political party fielded a candidate for the position.
In contested Democratic state House races, OSBCTC endorsed John Lively in Dist. 12 (Springfield area), Ben Unger in Dist. 29 (Hillsboro, Forest Grove), Jennifer Williamson in Dist. 36 (Southwest Portland), and Jessica Vega Pederson in Dist. 47 (East Portland). Lively is running to succeed Democrat Terry Beyer in the 12th District. He has one opponent, Sandra Mann. Unger is facing Katie Riley in District 29. The winner will take on incumbent Republican Katie Eyre. Williamson is up against Benjamin Jay Barber in the race to succeed Democrat Mary Nolan, who is leaving to run for Portland City Council. Vega Pederson has two opponents in District 47, which is being vacated by Jefferson Smith, who is running for mayor of Portland.
In uncontested primary races, the Council endorsed Republican incumbent Brian Boquist in Senate District 12 (representing parts of Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Benton and Linn counties); and Democratic incumbents Mark Haas in Dist. 14 (Beaverton area), Ginny Burdick in Dist. 18 (Tigard), Diane Rosenbaum in Dist. 21 (Southeast Portland), Chip Shields in Dist. 22 (inner North/NE Portland), and Laurie Monnes Anderson in Dist. 25 (Gresham, Troutdale).
Neither Burdick nor Shields have opponents in the general election.
Democratic State Rep. and co-Speaker of the House Arnie Roblan was endorsed in Senate District 5 (Coos Bay). Roblan is leaving House District 9 to run for the Senate, where incumbent Democrat Joanne Verger is retiring.
OSBCTC endorsed State Treasurer Ted Wheeler, Secretary of State Kate Brown, and Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian for re-election. Wheeler is uncontested in both the primary and general elections. Brown and Avakian have opponents in the general election in November.
In the Oregon House, OSBCTC endorsed the following incumbents based on their legislative voting records: Republicans Sal Esquivel, Dist. 6; Tim Freeman, Dist. 2; Vic Gilliam, Dist. 18; Wally Hicks, Dist. 3; Bob Jenson, Dist. 58; Wayne Krieger, Dist. 1; Andy Olson, Dist. 15; Greg Smith Dist. 57; and Matt Wand, Dist. 49. Esquivel, Freeman, Gilliam, Hicks, and Smith are the de facto winners, as they have no opposition in the general election.
The only endorsed incumbent with a contested race is Democrat Mike Schaufler in District 48 (Happy Valley).
Other Democrats endorsed are Jeff Barker, Dist. 28; Margaret Doherty, Dist. 35; Chris Garrett, Dist. 38; Paul Holvey, Dist. 8; Val Hoyle, Dist. 14; Betty Komp, Dist. 22; Tina Kotek, Dist. 44; Greg Matthews, Dist. 50; Tobias Read, Dist. 27; and Brad Witt, Dist. 31.
OSBCTC delegates will meet again later in the summer to consider endorsements for the general election.
