NEWS FROM OREGON DEMOCRATIC ELECTED OFFICALS
SEIU Backs John Kitzhaber for Governor
July 29, 2010
Members of the Services Employees International Union have voted overwhelmingly to endorse and support Democrat John Kitzhaber for governor and pledged to campaign actively on his behalf.
SEIU represents more than 50,000 workers in state and local government, homecare, child care, adult foster care and the state universities, as well as thousands of workers in the private sector including hospitals, nursing homes and property services.
The endorsement was recommended by the union's political action committee and affirmed by SEIU's Oregon State Council following a participatory process open to all candidates willing to respond to a questionnaire, appear before members and spend a day shadowing one member in the work place.
"We were impressed by Governor Kitzhaber's grasp of the issues, sincerity and candor," said Barbara Casey, a social services worker from Portland who chairs of the SEIU Local 503 CAPE (Citizens Action for Political Education) committee, "but more than anything else we believe he shares the values of our members and Oregon's working families."
"As a medical assistant I am thrilled that our union is endorsing Governor Kitzhaber," said Marsha King, who works at Kaiser Permanente and serves on the SEIU 49 executive board." Unlike his opponent he has a plan to improve quality care in our health care system and promote health and wellness while making sure every Oregonian has access to affordable health care."
Chris Dudley, the Republican nominee, a former officer of the NBA players union noted for finding ways around management efforts to cap salaries, spurned a chance to compete for SEIU's endorsement.
"Maybe he's more comfortable further enriching basketball pros than helping care providers to preserve services that allow seniors and people with disabilities to remain in their homes." said Mary Wood of Lincoln City, a leader of the SEIU 503 statewide homecare local. "We are so fortunate to have an alternative to that kind of thinking in the presence of John Kitzhaber, who is committed to protecting vulnerable Oregonians."
