United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, the largest private-sector union in the state, has endorsed Jennifer William-son in the Democratic primary for Oregon’s Secretary of State.
Williamson served as the majority leader in the Oregon House of Representatives. She has been the representative for Oregon’s 36th district, which includes much of Northwest and Southwest Portland, since 2013.
“During her time in the legislature, Rep. Williamson has been a champion for working Oregonians,” said UFCW Local 555 Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Anderson in a statement. “Her record has proven that UFCW 555 members can count on Jennifer to fight to level the playing field by holding corporations accountable, keeping our elections clean and fair, ensuring the highest integrity throughout the ballot measure process, and standing up to protect the 2021 redistricting process to ensure that Oregon is a place where district lines are drawn fairly and equitably.”
“Together, we’ve successfully advocated to make a difference in the lives of so many working Oregonians,” Williamson said in a press release following the endorsement. “From fighting for the Sick Days Act and Oregon’s Fair Work Week Law, both of which gave working Oregonians more stability in their lives and dignity in their work, to tough contract negotiations with some of the biggest corporate interests around, it has been an honor to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with UFCW 555 members. I’m so proud to have their support in this race.”
Oregon’s current Secretary of State, Republican Bev Clarno, was appointed by Gov. Kate Brown to complete the term of the elected Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, who died in February 2019. Richardson was a Republican. Clarno will not seek re-election. No Republicans have filed to run for the seat.
In the primary, Williamson will face fellow Democrats Sen. Mark Haas of Beaverton, attorney Jamie McLeod-Skinner of Terrebonne, and first-time candidate Cameron Smith, a former Marine captain who resigned as director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to run for the seat.
The primary will be held in May 2020.
Local 555 represents nearly 25,000 workers in Oregon and SW Washington. Members work in retail, manufacturing, health care, and other industries.
