Oregon’s May 2023 special election is mainly for school boards and special districts, plus filling a few vacancies in city and county office. It’s a low-profile election, but several local labor organizations have invested time interviewing candidates and have made endorsements. In some races, more than one candidate got support from at least one union. Following each name is a list of labor endorsers. Acronyms are in the legend at right. Because this list is meant as one little piece of data to help union voters make an informed decision, it lists only those candidates who have at least one union endorsing them—AND who have opponents on the ballot.

Ballots will be mailed April 26 and must be received or postmarked by May 16.

COUNTIES

Multnomah County Commissioner, District 3

• Julia Brim-Edwards  IBEW 48,  IAFF 43, Deputy Sheriff Association
• Ana del Rocio Iron Workers 29, LiUNA 737, Teamsters Joint Council 37, UFCW 555

Multnomah County Ballot Measure 26-238 

Citizen initiative, Measure 26-238 would provide free legal representation to all tenants in eviction cases, paid for by a local tax on capital gains income.

• VOTE YES AFM 99, AFSCME 88, AFSCME 189, AFSCME 328, AFT-Oregon, ATU 757, Centennial Education Association, CWA 7901, GEU of PSU, IATSE 28, ILWU 5, IWW, Laborers 483, NALC 82, Portland Association of Teachers, OFNHP, Parkrose Faculty Association, Protec 17, PSU AAUP, PSUFA, SEIU 503, Teamsters 206, UNITE HERE 8, Oregon Working Families Party eratenants.org
• VOTE NO IBEW 48  buildingourfuturetogether.org

CITIES

Eugene City Council

Ward 7 – Lyndsie Leech UFCW 555

COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Lane Community College Board

Position 6 – Bob Baldwin is a member of the Lane Community College Employee Federation. LCCLC

Position 7 – Lisa Fragala is a member of Eugene Education Association. LCCLC

K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Portland Public Schools

Zone 3 – Derrick Peterson CPBCTC, IBEW 48,  LiUNA 737, UFCW 555

Beaverton School Board

Zone 3 – Maham Ahmed UFCW 555

Zone 6 –  Justice Rajee UFCW 555

David Douglas School District

Position 5 – Aaron Barrow David Douglas Education Association, Oregon School Employees Association

• Position 7 – Deian Salazar NOLC, UFCW 555
• Position 7 – Kate Sherman is a member of SEIU Local 503 David Douglas Education Association, Oregon School Employees Association

Gresham Barlow School Board

Julie Frediani  UFCW 555

Stefanie Craft  UFCW 555

Sherwood School District

Matt Thornton is a former union member of Sherwood Education Association.  NOLC, UFCW 555

Newberg School Board

Zone 2 – Deb Bridges MPYCLC, UFCW 555

Zone 3 – Jeremy Hayden UFCW 555

Zone 4 – Nancy Woodward UFCW 555

Zone 6 – James Wolfer MPYCLC, UFCW 555

Zone 7 – Sol Allen MPYCLC

West Linn-Wilsonville School Board

Position 2 –  Maegan Vidal  UFCW 555

Woodburn School Board

Anabel Hernandez-Mejia MPYCLC

Salem-Keizer School Board

Zone 2 – Cynthia Richardson MPYCLC, UFCW 555

Zone 4 – Kelley Strawn MPYCLC, UFCW 555

Bethel School Board

Position 3 – Curt Nordling UFCW 555

Eugene 4J School Board

Position 1 – Tom Di Liberto is a member of the Eugene Education Association. LCCLC, UFCW 555

Position 4 – Gordon Lafer is co-director of the University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center, and a member of United Academics of UO. LCCLC

Position 5 – Jennifer Jonak LCCLC, UFCW 555

Position 7 – Thomas Hiura UFCW 555

Bend LaPine School Board

Zone 3 – Cameron Fischer COCLC

Zone 6 – Melissa Barnes Dholakia COCLC

EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICTS

Multnomah Education Service District

Katrina Doughty NOLC, UFCW Local 555, OEA

Denyce Peterson  is vice president of political action for her union, Portland Community College Federation of Classified Employees (AFT Local 3922) NOLC

SPECIAL DISTRICTS

Bend fire levy

VOTE YES COCLC

Willamalane Park and Recreation District

Chris Wig UFCW 555