In a roll call vote at a packed Feb. 24 meeting of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council (NOLC), delegates from affiliated unions voted overwhelmingly to endorse Ted Wheeler for re-election as Portland mayor. Endorsement requires a two-thirds majority. The mayor’s union supporters had been unable to get endorsement at the previous meeting Jan. 27 because some delegates disagreed, and officials didn’t have affiliate membership numbers needed to conduct a roll call vote. Once they did, it wasn’t unanimous, but it wasn’t close either: delegates representing 26,118 union members voted in favor, with 4,183 against.
“We’re endorsing Ted because we’re proud to support his record on labor so far, and we want continuity,” said NOLC Executive Secretary Treasurer Bob Tackett in a press statement.
Wheeler has also been endorsed for re-election by Teamsters Joint Council 37 and United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555.
Wheeler faces 14 challengers in the May 19 primary.
