Joe Esmonde, a business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 48, has been nominated by Gov. John Kitzhaber to a seat on TriMet’s board of directors.
The District 3 seat representing outer Southwest Portland, Tigard, King City, and parts of Beaverton has been vacant since January. The post was held by Steve Clark, former president of Community Newspapers, Inc., which publishes the Portland Tribune. He left the newspaper in 2012 for a marketing job at Oregon State University in Corvallis. He remained on the board until the end of 2012.
The seven-member volunteer board serves at the pleasure of the governor. Board members represent, and must live in, certain geographical districts. The board sets the direction and policy of TriMet and manages its budget. The term of office is four years.
The TriMet board has been without a labor voice since mid-2012, when Teamster Lynn Lehrbach was not re-appointed to a second four-year term.
TriMet has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with Amalgamated Transit Union that dates back to 2009.
Esmonde’s nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. The Senate Rules Committee will hold confirmation hearings May 29.
