In the Nov. 2 general election held in Washington, all but one of the city and school board candidates who were endorsed by the Southwest Washington Central Labor Council won office.
In Battle Ground, Adrian Cortes won his race for City Council Position 4.
In Vancouver, labor-backed incumbent mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle easily defeated a challenge from Earl Bowerman by about 2 to 1, labor-backed incumbent City Council member Eric Paulsen beat Kara Tess by almost 4 to 1, and labor-backed Diana Perez beat David Gellatly. But Vancouver City Council candidate John Blom lost to Kim Harless in an incredibly tight race that was decided by less than 50 votes, triggering an automatic recount. Both candidates had some union support: Harless, a paint recycling program coordinator who co-chairs Clark County Charter Review Commission, was endorsed by two Service Employees International Union locals, while Blom, a real estate broker and former Republican Clark County Council member, had the backing of the labor council, Fire Fighters, IBEW and Laborers.
In school board races, Camas School Board incumbent Corey McEnry, a teacher and vice president of the Hockinson Education Association, easily won reelection. And at Vancouver School Board, both union-endorsed incumbents, Sandra Zavala-Ortega and Wendy Smith, won re-election.
-DM
